Radiology, Vol 140, 187-190, Copyright © 1981 by Radiological Society of North America
Leukocyte and 67Ga-citrate dynamics in experimental subcutaneous Streptococcus faecalis infections
RR Tight and AR Siddiqui
The dynamics of white blood cell (WBC) and 67Ga-citrate accumulation were
studied in rabbits with subcutaneous polyethylene chambers. Uninfected
chamber fluid (CF) contained less than 1,000 WBCs/mm3, most of which were
mononuclear. After 67Ga injection, radioactivity increased slowly in
uninfected fluid, peaked between 24 and 48 hours, and then gradually
decreased. 67Ga scans showed no uptake in excess of background levels
around the uninfected chambers. After injection of Streptococcus faecalis
directly into the chambers, bacterial concentrations initially decreased,
increased by 4-24 hours, and then decreased slightly. WBCs began to
increase 4 hours after infection due to influx of polymorphonuclear
leukocytes. 67Ga localized in infected chambers before the increase in
WBCs. Use of the subcutaneous chamber model could help elucidate the
mechanism(s) of 67Ga accumulation at sites of inflammation.
