Kurloff cell levels in the peripheral blood of normal guinea-pigs treated with cytotoxic drugs.

The effect of cytotoxic drugs on Kurloff cell levels in the peripheral blood of normal female guinea-pigs has been studied. Single doses of cyclophosphamide, azathioprine, methotrexate, busulphan and melphalan all failed to reduce Kurloff cell levels. Repeated high dose treatment with cyclophosphamide caused a significant fall in circulating Kurloff cells, but also resulted in the dealth of animals. The similarity between these findings and those obtained by other authors using whole body radiation is discussed. The results show that Kurloff cells are much more resistant than some lymphocyte populations to the effect of cytotoxic drugs.