Changes of peripheral leukocyte-counts by electrically induced convulsion in rabbits (author's transl)]

Effects of electrically induced convulsion (EIC) in rabbits on peripheral leukocyte-count levels were studied. (1) Leukocyte-counts increased immediately after the EIC (phase-1) and 4 hours later (phase-2). In the examination of blood smear, phase-2 involved the shift to the left in neutrophils. This biphasic curve also showed by administration of convulsants. (2) Both phase-1 and the rise of transitory blood pressure disappeared by muscle relaxation. (3) Immediately after EIC, the circulating blood volume was significantly higher (about 7%, P less than .001) and the hematocrit was also higher. (4) Phase-1 was not affected by selective destruction of adrenergic nerve terminal with 6-hydroxydopamine (6-OHDA). Although, phase-2 was diminished by treatment with both 6-OHDA and reserpine. (5) An increase in leukocyte-counts occurred on the administration of serum obtained from rabbit during phase-2. These results seem to indicate that phase-1 occurs when circulating blood volume is higher due to convulsive muscle construction and thereby marginated granulocytes appear into the circulating blood. Aslo, it might be expected that phase-2 occurs chiefly by mobilizing of leukocytes from the storage pool in the bone marrow into the circulating blood by the humoral factor.