Abstract
Neutrophil chemotaxis and NBT test were used to demonstrate the effect of schizophyllan (SPG) on the phagocytosis by neutrophils.
(1) Neutrophil migration test in Boyden chamber
SPG proved to exert the highest chemotactic activity on mouse neutrophils at the concentration of 10 μg/ml.
When neutrophils from SPG-treated mice were employed, the stimulation of migratory capacity could be observed from 16 hours and maintained for more than 30 days after the intramuscular administration of 1 or 10 mg/kg of SPG.
(2) NBT test
SPG showed the strongest activity on NBT-reduction at the concentration of 10 μg/ml.
When neutrophils from SPG-treated mice were tested, the NBT-reduction activity began to increase from 1 hour, reached a peak on the 10 th day, and then decreased to the normal level 20 days after the intramuscular injection of 1 or 10 mg/kg of SPG.
SPG is considered to contribute to the phagocytosis by stimulating the chemotactic and NBT-reduction activities of neutrophils both in vitro and in vivo.
