Blood cells and their role in regeneration. II. Effects of putative immunological manipulations on circulating blood cell counts during regeneration.
The participation of leukocytes in regeneration was studied by determining changes in circulating leukocyte counts following putative immunological manipulations. Splenectomy failed to produce leukopenia during regeneration, although a 24-35% reduction in leukocytes occurred in otherwise intact newts. Bovine serum albumin and anti-lymphocyte serum produced initial lympho- and granulocytopenias, but blood counts soon returned to more normal levels. Lymphocytosis followed treatment with cobra venom factor, but marked lymphopenia occurred shortly thereafter. Regeneration occurred in all cases. These data failed to establish a clear correlation between the nature of quantitative changes in circulating leukocyte levels following these treatments and regenerative capacity.