EFFECTS OF PERFLUOROCHEMICAL ON PHAGOCYTIC FUNCTION OF LEUKOCYTES

Abstract

Oxygen-carrying perfluorochemical emulsions may become useful for transfusions when red cells cannot be used. Since accumulation of perfluorochemicals in reticuloendothelial cells has been demonstrated, we tested the phagocytic function of monocytes and neutrophils in rabbit and human blood exposed in vivo and in vitro, respectively, to perfluorotributylamine (Oxypherol) a perfluorochemical blood substitute. Neutrophil and monocyte phagocytosis was assessed by determining the uptake of serum-coated fluorescent beads by monocytes and neutrophils in whole blood. Morphologic changes were assessed by electron microscopy. The phagocytic activity of monocytes and neutrophils in the blood of four r..