STEROID EFFECTS ON HUMAN LEUKOCYTES

Abstract
In the presence of lipo-adrenal cortex, neutrophils, lymphocytes, monocytes and eosinophils exhibited intense cytoplasmic "bubbling". This was followed by gradual decolorization of previously stained mitochondria and cytoplasmic vacuoles, and by cellular disintegration. KCN and Na azide caused rapid destaining of mitochondria and vacuoles but without cytoplasmic "bubbling." Sur face active compounds did not protect leukocytes from the lethal action of lipo-adrenal cortex. Estrogens, progesterone and testosterone also destroyed the white elements of human blood but in a different manner.