Inhibition of leukocyte adherence and aggregation for treatment of severe cold injury in rabbits.

We tested the hypothesis that blocking neutrophil adherence and/or aggregation reduces tissue injury that results when tissue is frozen and rewarmed. The left hindlimbs of three groups of New Zealand White rabbits were immersed in a -15 degrees C salt water bath for 30 min to freeze the foot. The foot was rewarmed in a 39 degrees C water bath. In two groups, adherence and aggregation were blocked with monoclonal antibody (MAb) 60.3, and the third group was treated with saline. Two of the groups were treated at the time of rewarming with either saline or MAb 60.3, and the third group received MAb 60.3 at the conclusion of rewarming. Tissue edema and tissue loss were significantly less in the two groups receiving MAb 60.3 than in the control group. Rabbits treated at the time of rewarming had less edema and tissue loss than those treated at the completion of rewarming. These studies indicate that a substantial component of severe cold injury is neutrophil mediated and occurs after rewarming.