[Tetracycline penetration into human peripheral blood leukocytes and their intracellular distribution].

The studies showed that the tetracyclines tested (morphocycline, tetracycline and methacycline) penetrated into leucocytes of the human peripheral blood. Agranulocyte absorbed the drugs more actively than granulocytes. Pinocytosis was suggested to be involved in the penetration. On interaction with intracellular structures the tetracyclines reversibly bound to the organoid cells lost their biological activity to a significant degree. Progressive dissociation of organoid-drug complexes and the egress of tetracyclines from the cells were likely to occur as their contents in the extracellular environment decreased. The penetration capacity and subcellular structure affinity of methacycline were the highest among the drugs tested. It is suggested that penetration of the tetracyclines through the cytoplasmic membranes and their distribution inside the cells are reciprocal.