Leucocytes and Thrombosis

Abstract

SummaryThe rate of white cell loss from heparinised whole blood in a rotating glass flask has been used to study leucocyte behaviour.Leucocyte loss requires divalent cations and magnesium is more active than calcium. Sulphydryl blockers and potassium cyanide inhibit white cell loss, showing that sulphydryl groups and a glycolytic pathway play a part in leucocyte adhesion.White cell loss from plasma rotated in a flask is negligible, but is markedly increased by adding red cells, red cell sonicates or ADP.The role of platelets and of substances which affect platelet behaviour in white cell adhesion is discussed.