Inhibition of human leukocyte metabolism and random mobility by local anaesthesia.

Hexose-monophosphate shunt (HMS) activity, myelo-peroxidase-(MPO)-mediated iodination and random mobility in human polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMNs) were studied in the presence of lignocaine. Incubating the PMNs with 0.1% lignocaine during phagocytosis inhibited the 14CO2 produced from glucose-1-14-C via the HMS shunt by 33%. On increasing the concentration of lignocaine, a dose-dependent inhibition was noted. The MPO-mediated iodination was inhibited by 73% in the presence of 0.1% lignocaine, and complete inhibition took place when the concentration was increased to 0.5%. The random mobility of leukocytes was studied by an opto-electronic technique. In the presence of 0.5% lignocaine, all leukocytes examined were completely immobilized; in the presence of 0.1% lignocaine immobilization took place within 45-65 min.