THE CELL POPULATION KINETICS OF NEUTROPHILIC CELLS

Autoradiographic data for the entry of tritiated thymidine labelled cells into the post-proliferative neutrophilic cell compartments following a single injection of isotope have been analysed in terms of two cell kinetic models which differ in the assumed relationships between cell maturation and division. Comparisons with the experimental data were made in an attempt to assess the validities of the models, and kinetic parameters for the compartments of recognizable neutrophilic cells were estimated. Control mechanisms which have been proposed for the granulocyte system are discussed in terms of the kinetic models which were chosen in their determination. Although it was not possible to make a clear choice between the proposed models, preference was established for a random model which did not involve cell loss.