Effects of a novel perfluorocarbon emulsion on neutrophil chemiluminescence in human whole blood in vitro

The effects have been studied of a novel pefluorochemical (PFC) emulsion (18.5% perfluorodecalin, 1.5% perfluorodimorpholine propane, 2.5% lecithin) on phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA; 100 mu g ml(-1)-induced) neutrophil chemiluminescence in citrated human whole blood in vitro. A transient, dose-dependent, decrease in chemiluminescence, to a maximum of 54% after 12 min (P < 0.05), occurred when blood nas pre-incubated with 10-40 mu l of the PFC emulsion, compared to saline controls. The mean (+/- s.e.m., n = 6) chemiluminescence of neutrophils incubated with 30 mu l emulsion at 12 min following PMA stimulation (9.5 +/- 1.3 mV) was significantly lower (P < 0.05) than control (24.2 +/- 2.2 mV). Incubation of blood with lecithin up to 16 mg ml(-1) and Pluronic(R) F-68 or Pluronic(R) PE 6800 up to 65 mg ml(-1) did not affect chemiluminescence.