Effect of Muscular Activity prior to Venepuncture on the Respiration of Leucocytes in vitro

Abstract

DURING an investigation of the respiration of human leucocytes we noticed that moderate exercise by the donor prior to venepuncture seemed to be associated with a high rate of leucocyte oxygen consumption. Determination of the oxygen consumption of leucocytes (resuspended in a modified Krebs No. 2 buffer) was-made by the direct method in Warburg respirometers at 37° C. Results were expressed as μmoles oxygen consumed per hr. per 10⁷ leucocytes, so that the effect of any variation in total white cell count was eliminated.