Ability of prolonged hypoxic exposure to impair the subsequent rate of neutrophil apoptosis following reoxygenation.

Neutrophils were incubated for 20 to 30 hours in 21% (▪) or 3% (●) oxygen, and apoptosis was assessed morphologically on cytocentrifuge preparations. In addition, the extent of apoptosis was assessed in cells initially incubated in 3% oxygen for 20 hours before transfer to 21% oxygen (▵). Data are expressed as mean ± SEM of 5 separate experiments, each performed in triplicate.