Effects of Genetics and Anesthesia Upon Granulocyte and Agranulocyte Levels in Seven Inbred Mouse Strains

Abstract

Direct chamber counts of granulocytes (grans.) and agranulocytes (agrans.) were made by the Randolph method in the blood of 2- to 3-mo.-old virgin females and males of 7 inbred strains, with and without Nembutal anesthesia (anes.) Mean values are given for 10 nonanes. and 10 anes. animals from each of 7 strains, according to sex and for both sexes. Combined values for sex for the gran. counts ranged from 1.97 to 0.84 (mean 1.4) in the nonanes. group and from 1.45 to 0.67 (mean 1.13) in the anes. group. Combined values for sex for the agran. counts ranged from 8.12 to 5.6 (mean 6.92) in the nonanes. group and from 7.73 to 4.13 (mean 6.05) in the anes.group. Analysis of the source of variation for each type of leukocyte shows a value of 1 for anes. and sex, respectively, and of 6 for strain. It is concluded that genetic differences were significantly responsible for variations in both grans. and agrans. The observed strain differences did not appear to be related to differences in other known physiological characteristics. Anes. contributed significantly to variations in gran. no.