Evaluation in vitro of canine neutrophil function

Polymorphonuclear granulocyte (PMN) phagocytosis may be affected by many pa thological changes. A panel of tests requiring relatively small volumes of blood was applied to 16 healthy dogs in order to obtain normal values and t o standardize techniques. PMNs were isolated by discontinuous Percoll gradi ents; chemotaxis was tested in a modified Boyden chamber using the leading front method; fluorescinated yeast uptake was evaluated on a slide and supe roxide (SO) production and adherence was carried out on a microtitre plate. The different aspects of phagocytosis showed no correlation with one anoth er. Better results were obtained using a 60 min incubation period using int erleukin-8 (25 ng/mL) as an activator for chemotaxis, and incubating plates for 30 min with phorbol myristate acetate (10(-6) mol/L) to assess SO prod uction. (C) 2001 Harcourt Publishers Ltd.