DECREASE OF PHAGOCYTIC FUNCTIONS IN HYPERTENSIVE RATS

The present investigation was aimed to examine non-specific immunologi c capabilities of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) during the dev elopment of hypertension. In vitro phagocytosis and oxidative killing exerted by monocytes, polymorphonuclear cells (PMN) and splenic macrop hages (SpM0) were evaluated in SHR at 5-, 8-, and 24-weeks of age. Age -matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were used as controls. R esults showed that in pre-hypertensive stage (5-wk) there was no diffe rence between SHR and WKY rats with regard to non-specific immunologic functions. Statistically significant differences in both phagocytosis and oxidative killing arose in early hypertensive stage (8-wk) and be came more marked in adult SHR with established hypertension (24-wk). I n conclusion, our data provide evidence of novel immunologic abnormali ties in SHR in terms of ingestion and bactericidal phagocytic capabili ties. The mechanisms responsible for these impaired immunologic functi ons may depend on various suppressive factors which will be object of discussion.