Abstract
Metabolic and bactericial activities of leukocytes obtained from 5 normal volunteers receiving 1 mg of synthetic B1-24 ACTH intra-muscularly daily for 7 days, were studied. Bactericidal activity and phagocytosis induced hexosemonophosphate shunt activity of leukocytes were found to be depressed following ACTH administration. However, glycolytic activity, which provides the necessary energy for particle uptake by leukocytes, was not altered. These findings indicate that a moderately prolonged exposure to elevated levels of plasma Cortisol does not affect the phagocytic activity of leukocytes (as indicated by glycolytic activity) but significantly impairs their ability to destroy the ingested bacteria. It is suggested that the impaired bactericidal activity of leukocytes reported in children suffering from proteincalorie malnutrition may partly be due to elevated plasma Cortisol levels seen in them.
Key words
ACTH - Plasma Cortisol - Phagocytosis - Bactericidal Activity - Glycolytic Activity - Hexosemonophosphate Shunt Activity - Protein-calorie Malnutrition
