Effect of ethanol on the metabolism of the white blood cells.

Ethanol at a concentration of 40 mg% in the medium was found to inhibit the respiratory uptake of oxygen by polymorphonuclear cells obtained from rat peritoneal fluid. The stimulated oxygen uptake by these cells under conditions of phagocytosis was also inhibited with this concentration of ethanol. The quantities of hydrogen peroxide produced by these cells were also found to have been diminished. The possible significance of these findings is discussed.