The Effect of Glucose on Neutrophilic Phagocytosis
Samples of blood were obtained from thirty healthy young adult males (Loma Linda University School of Dentistry), and contaminated with bacteria. Varying concentrations of pure glucose were added to this mixture to observe the effect of the glucose on in vitro neutrophilic phagocytosis. As the glucose levels increased a statistically significant suppression was noted in the ability of the neutrophilic leukocytes to engulf Staphylococcus epidermidis. It was not possible, however, to predict the degree of suppression for any particular level of glucose added nor is it possible to state that suppression will occur in any one individual. Two methods of phagocytic index determinations were used. The first recorded the percentage of neutrophils that had phagocytized and the second counted the number of bacteria per phagocyte. Statistically no difference was noted between the two methods.
Bacteriology, Periodontics and Periodontology, Glucose; Phagocytosis
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