Dynamics of Blood Components and Peritoneal Fluid during Treatment of Murine E. coli Sepsis with β‐1, 3‐D‐Polyglucose Derivatives

Abstract

Beta-1,3-D-polyglucose derivatives protect mice against otherwise lethal bacterial infections. This protective effect has previously been considered to be mediated through mononuclear phagocytes. We have not investigated the cellular composition in blood and peritoneal fluid after administration of the .beta.-1,3-D-polyglucose before and after challenge with Escherichia coli. In animals treated with .beta.,1,3-D-polyglucose derivatives, the total white cell number was significantly increased in both blood and peritoneal fluid before and after challenge with E. coli. The increased total cell number was mainly the result of raised levels of granulocytes. The effects of .beta.-1,3-D-polyglucose-derivatized microbeads (GDM) and soluble aminated .beta.-1,3-D-polyglucose (AG) were similar. Bacterial counts in peripheral blood in GDM- and AG-treated animals increased until 6 h after challenge and approached zero after 24 h. In untreated animals the bacterial counts increased gradually until the animals died after about 12 h. Bacterial counts in peritoneal fluid of GDM-and AG-treated animals declined to zero after 24 h. In untreated animals there was a slight increase in bacterial counts until the animals died after about 12 h. By using radioactive labelling, we localized the bacteria as well as the .beta.-1,3-D-polyglucose derivatives during the period following injection. Particle-bound .beta.-1,3-D-polyglucose was recovered mainly in the milky spots of the omentum. A conspicuous number of bacteria were also recovered in the milky spots. The soluble aminated .beta.-1,3-D-polyglucose was recovered in the milky spots. The soluble aminated .beta.-1,3-D-polyglucose was recovered mainly in the liver. However, on a weight basis, the greatest concentration of radioactivity was in the milky spots.