Ameboid Motility of Human Leukocytes

This study presents a relatively simple and consistently reproducible technic for the quantitative evaluation of the ameboid motility of human leukocytes. Factors such as anticoagulants, time of centrifugation, the temperature of storage of leukocytes, the medium in which the leukocytes are suspended, and the use of tube or slide methods of observation with dark field or phase contrast microscopy, have been critically evaluated. The results of this technic, when applied to six normal donors and 36 ill patients, show that age, sex, anemia, general nutritional condition, diabetes and terminal disease have no clear cut effect on the vitality of the human leukocyte as measured by ameboid motility. It seems reasonable that this technic may be valuable in future studies on the leukotoxic effects of new drugs, as well as in studies of immunologic mechanisms in blood dyscrasias.