Phagocytic activity of human polymorphonuclear leukocytes at different temperatures.

Phagocytic activity from human PMN obtained from defibrinated peripheral blood of young adults of both sexes was studied. Defibrinated blood was distributed in volumes of 0.6 ml over 12 glass slip covers, and incubated at 37 degrees C in humid chamber for 30 minutes, in order to permit the PMN adherence to glass. Then the PMN were rinsed with culture medium, covered with 0.6 ml of 1 x 10(6) latex particles (0.81 microns, Bacto-latex Difco) suspension in autologous serum by milliliter, and incubated by triplicate per 30 minutes at 35 degrees C, 37 degrees C and 39 degrees C. Then slip covers were rinsed with culture medium and stained with Wright stain. Phagocytic index was calculated as the average of phagocytized latex particles per 300 PMN. The results obtained were: at 35 degrees C, 17.26 +/- 6.1; at 37 degrees C, 19.80 +/- 6.26; at 39 degrees C, 21.94 +/- 6.94; and at 41 degrees C, 25.58 +/- 6.69. The correlation coefficient between this temperature increase and the phagocytic indexes was 0.41. This allow to conclude that a direct linear increment exists between the PMN phagocytic indexes and the temperature increase.