Metabolic burst and motility in granulocytes following trauma and endotoxinaemia in the anaesthetized pig.

The early effects of trauma and endotoxinaemia in pigs have been studied with regard to granulocyte motility and metabolic burst (chemiluminescence). Increased spontaneous chemiluminescence was observed following a moderate aseptic trauma (osteotomies) or endotoxin infusion in healthy pigs. Zymosan-opsonized chemiluminescence was increased post trauma. Endotoxin infusion, however, led to unchanged values during infusion but a significant decreased Zymosan-opsonized chemiluminescence 3 h after ended infusion. Migration capacity was unchanged by trauma, but markedly reduced following endotoxin infusion. When traumatized pigs had an endotoxin infusion 24 h post trauma, the increase in spontaneous chemiluminescence was significantly more pronounced than following endotoxin infusion in healthy pigs, and Zymosan-opsonized chemiluminescence less decreased. Motility, however, was equally reduced as following endotoxin infusion in healthy pigs. These findings correspond well with the known decreased phagocytic capacity of granulocytes in septicaemia, but also indicate a rapid post-traumatic reaction which might be an attempt to reduce the lethal danger of a subsequent infection.