Modulatory effect of the gut on. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes motility. Preliminary report

We have compared the spontaneous and stimulated motility of PMN from blood samples taken simultaneously from human portal and cubital vein. Blood was taken during laparotomy from 10 cholecystectomized patients and from 6 patients in whom carcinoma of pancrease was confirmed. In all subjects both spontaneous and stimulated migration rates of PMN from the portal vein were lower than that of PMN isolated from the cubital vein; the differences were significant. We conclude that the gut probably modulates the motility of PMN.