THE EFFECT OF PERITONEAL-LAVAGE ON PERITONEAL CELLULAR DEFENSE-MECHANISMS

To assess the effect of peritoneal lavage on peritoneal cellular defen se mechanisms, peritoneal fluid total cell counts, cell types, phagocy tic activity and polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNL) chemotaxis before and 4 hours after saline lavage was studied on 70 rats. Lavage with 1 0 ml saline decreased the peritoneal total cell counts of rats from 10 .6 x 10(6) to 6.6 x 10(6) (p < 0.005). Among the peritoneal cells, the fraction of PMNL increased whereas the macrophages, lymphocytes and m ast cells decreased (p < 0.005). The phagocytic activity of peritoneal phagocytic cells did not change significantly by peritoneal lavage. H owever, after lavage, PMNL instead of macrophages were the prominent p hagocytic cells. Chemotactic index of peritoneal PMNL also did not cha nge with saline lavage. It is concluded that although the phagocytic a nd chemotactic activity of peritoneal fluid cells are not affected by peritoneal lavage, cellular defense of the peritoneum may be compromis ed by altering the total cell counts and their composition.