A Role of Peripheral Leukocytes in Vascular Permeability and Edema Formation in Air Pouch Type Allergic Inflammation in Rats

Using an air pouch type allergic inflammation model in rats, a role of circulating leukocytes in allergic inflammation responses was investigated by comparing normal rats with peripheral leu-kocytopenia rats induced by cyclophosphamide treatment. In the leukocytopenia rats, vascular permeability, edema formation, leukocyte infiltration into the pouch fluid, neutrophil chemotactic activity in the pouch fluid occurred both at the early phase (4 h) and the late phase (8 h) after the antigen challenge were decreased. However, edema formation induced by intradermal injection of arachidonate metabolites, serotonin, or platelet activating factor was not suppressed at all in the leukocytopenia rats. A possible role of peripheral leukocytes in allergic and non-allergic inflammation is discussed.