Modulating effect of sodium diethyldithiocarbamate on neutrophils in normal, febrile and cold-stressed rabbits.

The studies were conducted on normal, febrile and cold-stressed rabbits. Fever was induced by a single intravenous injection of 1 micrograms/kg of E. coli lipopolysaccharide (LPS). The animals were submerged in ice-water for 20 s and then were kept at -15 degrees C for approx. 8 min., until their body temperature dropped by 3 degrees C. Sodium diethyldithiocarbamate (DTC) was injected i.v. to normal, febrile and cold-stressed rabbits, in a single dose of 2 or 20 mg/kg. The effect of DTC on body temperature, the number of neutrophils in blood, phagocytic activity of neutrophils and their ability to reduce nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) were evaluated. It was found that DTC administered in a dose of 2 or 20 mg/kg did not affect the body temperature of rabbits. In normal rabbits, DTC did not change the number of neutrophils, but increased their phagocytic activity and ability to reduce NBT. In febrile rabbits, DTC depending on the dose, shortened the stimulating effect of LPS on neutrophil ability to reduce NBT but enhanced and prolonged the effect of pyrogen on neutrophil phagocytic activity. The rabbits treated with DTC prior to hypothermia exhibited shorter neutrophilia resulting from cold stress. In addition, DTC administered to the rabbits before their exposure to cold stress proved to be a partial or even total protection against the decrease in NBT reducing ability and phagocytic activity of blood neutrophils.