LEUKOCYTE TRAFFICKING IN FREE-FLOWING CEREBROSPINAL-FLUID OF NORMAL RHESUS MACAQUES (MACACA-MULATTA)

Cellular components in free-flowing cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of norma l rhesus macaques were characterized. Microscopic counting enumerated the rotal number of leukocytes, percentage of polymorphonuclear cells (PMN), leukocytes with nonspecific esterase (NSE), and those reducing nitro blue tetrazolium (NBT). Flow cytometric analysis further identif ied CD4, CD8, CD14, and CD20 positive leukocytes. These experiments es tablished reliable techniques for evaluating cellular components in CS F from rhesus macaques and documented the difference in the CD4/CD8 ra tio between peripheral blood (PB) and CSF compartments under normal ph ysiological conditions.