The Influence of Cyclophosphamide on Accumulation of Peritoneal Exudate Cells Responding to PPD in BCG- sensitized Guinea Pigs
In BCG-sensitized guinea pigs, the influence of pretreatment with cyclophosphamide (CY) (300 mg/kg) 3 days before sensitization on peritoneal exudate cell accumulation in the PPD-induced delayed type hypersensitivity reaction was analyzed by using the sponge implant method. The number of polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) accumulating in the intraperitoneally implanted sponges containing 50 μg of PPD was increased more than that in the untreated group 24-48 hours after challenged implantation when CY pretreated. The accumulation of mononuclear cells, however, was decreased. The enhanced effect of CY pretreatment on the immune response to PPD in tuberculin type of delayed type hypersensitivity through the selective inhibition of suppressor cells may be evaluated in terms of the increase in PMN accumulating at the reaction site.
