Effect of acute alcohol intoxication on granulocyte mobilization and kinetics

Granulocyte mobilization into skin abrasions in human volunteers was significantly inhibited by acute alcohol intoxication (45,-800 cells in 8 hr versus 353,000 in normal controls). Alcohol applied locally did not inhibit granulocyte delivery, and protection of the abrasion against heat loss did not reduce the inhibited delivery in intoxicated volunteers. Intoxication inhibited granulocyte adherence and local mobilization in parallel. Alcohol administration to rabbits shifted granulocytes from marginal to circulating pool in a manner similar to epinephrine. Mobilization of bone marrow granulocytes by glucocorticoid or endotoxin administration was not inhibited by intoxication, nor did it prevent the endotoxin-induced shift of granulocytes from circulating to marginal pool.