LEUKOCYTE ALKALINE-PHOSPHATASE AND SERUM GAMMA-GLUTAMIL TRANSFERASE ACTIVITIES IN HORSES USED FOR PRODUCTION OF HYPER IMMUNE SERA

The activities of leukocyte alkaline phosphatase (1-AP) and serum gamm a-glutamil transferase (gamma-GT), and total leukocyte counts were det ermined in horses submitted to the production of hyper immune sera aga inst tetanus (Clostridium tetani). The purpose of this work was to inv estigate the prospective changes of mentioned parameters in horses und er the described circumstances. In addition, the suitability of these parameters in assessing the health condition of the same horses had to be evaluated. The average total leukocyte count increased in one mont h from the values considered as physiological (8.8 x 10(9)/L, Schalm e t al. 1975) to the value of 12 x 10(9)/L and remained at this level up to the end of the trial. The 1-AP activities fell after 30 days of th e trial for 100 units, and showed permanent slight decreasing tendency thereafter. On the contrary, the serum gamma-GT activity was increasi ng gradually throughout the whole trial. The results indicate the poss ibility of reflecting the dynamics of intensified leukocyte metabolism in the course of its function within the chronic inflammation, and de velopment of accompanying pathological changes in the liver. In additi on, the initialisation period of pathological changes in the organism of horses in experiment could be between the fourth and sixth month fo llowing exposure to antigen.