Studies on phytohemagglutinin-induced peritonitis of mice: dynamics of inflammatory responses and influence of anticomplementary agents and anti-inflammatory drugs.

The intraperitoneal injection of phytohemagglutinin in the mouse resulted in the marked accumulation of leukocytes, especially macrophages, in the peritoneal cavity between 8 and 36 h after the injection. Parallel to the accumulation of macrophages, exudation of plasma proteins into the peritoneal cavity was observed. When the effect of anticomplementary agents (FUT-175 and K-76 COONa) and anti-inflammatory drugs (indomethacin and dexamethasone) on phytohemagglutinin-induced peritonitis was examined, FUT-175, K-76 COONa and indomethacin suppressed only the plasma protein exudation. On the other hand, dexamethasone suppressed both the accumulation of macrophages and the plasma protein exudation.