The Piromen Test as an assay of bone marrow granulocyte reserves in the calf. I. Studies on bone marrow and peripheral blood leukocytes.

The use of Piromen, a polysaccharide complex of Pseudomonas aeroginosa, has been investigated in 21 calves by a test of marrow granulocyte reserves. The maximal increase in peripheral granulocytes (DeltaG) was determined following multiple intravenous and sub-cutaneous injections of Piromen at various time intervals and was correlated with the mature marrow granulocytes on bone marrow smear differentials. Five ug Piromen per kg body weight, by the subcutaneous route, was found to give a mean DeltaG of 5200/mm(3), very similar to the DeltaG of 5300/mm(3) obtained in man with 0.1 ug/kg intravenous Piromen injections. Clinical effects in calves were minimal with the subcutaneous route as compared to the response following intravenous Piromen injections.