Early colonisation of a local inflammatory lesion and its relationship to changes in systemic leucocyte availability: A study of turpentine-induced lesions in the rat

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Abstract
Changes in peripheral blood leukocyte counts and lesion inflammatory cells were measured at intervals up to 24 h following the s.c. injection of turpentine in rats. The lesion PMNL [polymorphonuclear leukocyte] changes were characterized by a sharp rise between 0 and 6 h and a less-rapid fall between 6 and 24 h. The half-life of lesion PMNL, as determined by tritiated thymidine labeling between 12 and 24 h after turpentine injections, was 13 h and there was a significant correlation between blood and lesion PMNL counts throughout the experimental period. A dependence of the lesion PMNL population on the availability of these cells is suggested. Mononuclear cells, which were predominantly monocyte-derived, showed a sharp rise between 6 and 12 h, plateauing thereafter. These changes were not associated with significant alterations in blood monocyte counts. Although significant changes in blood lymphocyte counts were observed, these were not reflected in the local inflammatory lesion.