Age－dependent Variations in Chemiluminescence Response of Rat Whole Blood

Chemiluminescence (CL), one of the assay system for phagocytic functions of leukocytes, especially of polymorphonuclear leukocytes was used for assessing the agerelated changes of immunocompetence in rat. The estimation of CL was carried out using freshly drawn unfractionated whole blood. The peak CL responses in newborns and relatively old rats were low compared to those in adult rats, although only the difference in the newborn group was statistically significant. The kineticproperties of CL response of newborns were also different from those of other age groups of rats. These resulta suggest the age-related changes of phagocytic functions may exist which may contribute to the high susceptibility to infection of old animals and newborns.

Polymorphonuclear leukocyte

Phagocytic function

Chemiluminescence

Rat

Aging