In vitro effects of prednisolone sodium succinate and Escherichia coli organisms on neutrophil survival, glucose utilization, and E coli clearance in canine blood.

A concentration of 1.4 X 10(9) Escherichia coli was added to tubes containing 10 ml of freshly collected blood from dogs to determine if prednisolone sodium succinate altered in vitro E coli mortality, glucose utilization, or neutrophil destruction. Group 1 tubes contained organisms plus saline solution, group 2 tubes had E coli plus 140 microgram of prednisolone/ml, and group 3 tubes contained E coli plus 1,400 microgram of prednisolone/ml. Initial and final WBC, RBC, PCV and E coli concentrations were determined on each group. Blood glucose values were measured from zero time through +2 hours. There was a significant (P less than 0.001) reduction in the number of E coli in vitro for all groups, but there was no difference among the groups. Fewer neutrophils (P less than 0.01) were lost in the tubes containing either concentration of prednisolone than in the tubes containing E coli alone. At the therapeutic amount of prednisolone (group 2) the glucose utilization was not significantly (P greater than 0.05) different from the utilization in the control group; however, at 10 X the therapeutic amount of prednisolone (group 3), there was an increase in glucose utilization. Seemingly, prednisolone does not alter in vitro E coli destruction and aids in preserving neutrophils of canine blood.