Claude F. Dixon

Cytologic response to peritoneal irritation in man

Abstract This study indicates that the normal peritoneal fluid of man contains about 2300 white cells per cubic millimeter. Of these about 45 per cent are histiocytes; very few are neutrophils; a few are eosinophils and basophils, and many are lymphocytes. Inflammation causes an increase in the total number of cells; at first there is an increase in the number of neutrophils, later, an increase in the number of histiocytes. Injection intraperitoneally of a mixed colon bacillus and streptococcus vaccine increases the total cell count ten times or more, causing an early increase in the number of neutrophils and a later increase in the number of histiocytes. At least part of the protection against peritonitis afforded by intraperitoneal vaccination would seem to be the result of a non-specific production of phagocytosis, caused by an increase in the number of histiocytes.