Cytochemical and ultracytochemical studies of peroxidase activity in rabbit blood granulocytes under hydrocortisone effect.

Cytochemically peroxidase activity has been examined on the light optical and ultrastructural levels in blood granulocytes of the rabbits after a single (5 mg/kg) and multiple (1 and 5 mg/kg every 24 hrs during 4 weeks) administrations of hydrocortisone. Under electron microscope peroxidase activity was detected in the blood of intact rabbits into typical primary granules (TPG) and small polymorphic granules (SPG) of neutrophils as well as into specific granules of basophils sometimes in perinuclear space and GER channels. 6 h after hydrocortisone injection peroxidase activity in neutrophils increased, the reaction product in both kinds of cytoplasmic granules was electron denser than in the controls. After multiple hydrocortisone (1 mg/kg) administrations peroxidase general activity in granulocytes has not considerably changed, but the number of TPGs and SPGs was decreased in neutrophils. Multiple administrations of a higher dose of hydrocortisone (5 mg/kg) have induced peroxidase activity decreasing in neutrophils and a decrease in the number and electron density of TPGs and SPGs in them. In basophils there was a significant accumulation of the reaction product of high electron density in perinuclear space, in specific granules and GER channels. The conclusions has been drawn that a short-term raising of hydrocortisone level stimulates and prolonged hypercorticism inhibits peroxidase activity in neutrophils and, consequently, their function.