Migration of peritoneal polymorphonuclear leucocytes in the rat.

The migration of PMNs into inflammatory sites in the rat has been studied using elicited peritoneal cells. These cells exhibit normal random migration and phagocytosis in vitro but their chemotactic response towards activated serum is significantly reduced when compared to cells isolated from peripheral blood. When injected intravenously, peritoneal cells not only show a greatly diminished ability to accumulate in inflammatory exudates but also block the migration of peripheral PMNs. Thus while PMNs obtained from the peritoneum may be suitable for some studies, they are not representative of peripheral cells with respect to their ability to accumulate in inflammatory exudates due to implanted inert sponges.