Acid hydrolase activity in the leukocytes of tumor-bearing rats.

Acid hydrolase activities were measured in separated lymphocytes, polymorphonuclear leukocytes, and the total leukocyte population of normal and tumor-bearing rats. Only aryl sulfatase activity of the lymphocytes from tumor-bearing rats was significantly increased. Those showing significant decreases in tumor bearers were cathepsin in polymorpho nuclear leukocytes and ß-galactosidaseand acid phosphatase in both cell types. The activity per unit volume of blood was increased in the tumor-bearing rats for all enzymes except acid phosphatase. The increase in activity per unit volume of blood in the tumor-bearing animals was attributed to an increase in total leukocytes and a higher percentage of polymorpho nuclear leukocytes.