PHAGOCYTE ACTIVITY IN THE FROG RANA-TEMPORARIA - WHOLE-BLOOD CHEMILUMINESCENCE METHOD AND THE EFFECTS OF TEMPERATURE AND THERMAL-ACCLIMATION

The respiratory burst activity of phagocytes was measured as zymosan i nduced, luminol-enhanced chemiluminescence (CL) emission in the whole blood of the frog Rana temporaria. The effect of thermal acclimation o n phagocyte activity was studied by acclimating adult frogs for 14-18 days to 5 and 24 degrees C. The phagocyte CL was measured at seven tem peratures ranging from 5 to 37 degrees C. Clear signs of resistance ac climation were seen both in CL reaction kinetics at 5 degrees C (P < 0 .0001) and in intensities at 37 degrees C (P < 0.003), Thermal adaptat ion was also seen as a 1-5 degrees C shift in the temperature response curve of CL intensity towards the acclimation temperature (P < 0.03). The highest CL intensities were seen at 30 degrees C and they were of the same magnitude in both acclimation groups, The phagocyte activati on enhanced progressively at temperatures ranging from 5 to 30 degrees C, showing that migration to a warmer environment would increase the phagocyte activity of frogs. The possible relation to behavioral fever is discussed.