Influence of hydrocortisone on uptake and elimination of 32P-labelled E. coli by rat polymorphonuclear neutrophils (PMN) in vitro.

Hydrocortisone was tested for inhibition of uptake and of elimination of E. coli by monolayers of rat peritoneal PMN. 32P was used as label of the bacteria and their degradation products eliminated from the phagocytes. The cellular uptake was reduced by hydrocortisone (1-2 mg per ml) both in the presence and absence of serum, while the elimination of bacterial label was reduced by 0.5 mg per ml and higher concentrations of the drug.