The Influence of Phagocytosis on the Distribution of Bactericidal Activity in Leucocyte Fractions Fractions 0 Experiment I

The previous papers in this series have presented data on the composition of the cytoplasmic granules of rabbit polymorphonuclear leucocytes and on the fate of the granules following particle ingestion (1, 2). These studies demonstrated that the granules contain the bactericidal agent phagocytin and a number of hydrolytic enzymes. Both types of compounds can be liberated in a non-sedimentable, active form by procedures which disrupt the granules. Since morphological degranulation occurred following the engulfment of bacteria, it seemed likely that phagocytosis might also lead to release of granule-associated factors into the cytoplasm of the leucocyte. This report will deal with the intraleucocytic distribution of both phagocytin and selected hydrolases subsequent to the ingestion of heat-killed bacteria.