Enhanced phagocytic activity of neutrophils caused by administration of egg white derivatives (EWD) in cats injected with cyclophosphamide (CPA)

TO examine ill vivo effects of egg white derivatives (EWD), the numbers of peripheral blood cells and neutrophil phagocytosis were evaluated in cats i njected intramuscularly with cyclophosphamide (CPA). There were no changes in the number of red blood cells (RBC) or packed cell volume (PCV) values r egardless of oral administration of EWD or injection of CPA. but the number s of platelets, white blood cells (WBC) and neutrophils in cats administere d EWD significantly increased (p<0.05 to 0.01) when compared with those in control cats which received saline solution. In addition, the administratio n of EWD resulted in a significant enhancement in the phagocytic activity o f neutrophils (p<0.01) when compared to control cats, suggesting that EWD h as a stimulating effect on leukocyte progenitors. The numbers of platelets, WBC and neutrophils, and the phagocytic activity of neutrophils in cats in jected with CPA alone were significantly lower (p<0.05 to 0.01) than those in control cats. However, co-administration of EWD to cars injected with CP A resulted in a significant increase in the numbers of platelets, WBC and n eutrophils (p<0.05 to 0.01), and in the phagocytic response of neutrophils (p<0.01) when compared to cats injected with CPA alone. Therefore, these re sults suggest that co-administration of EWD may be effective in reducing st ,me possible side effects in animals treated with immunosuppressive or anti tumor agents.