THE EFFECTS OF CAFFEINE ON GLUCOSE METABOLISM OF POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES

¹ Division of Hahnemann Medical College, Philadelphia General Hospital, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania

polymorphonuclear leukocytes from normal individuals were incubated in donor serum containing C¹⁴-labeled glucose and caffeine sodium benzoate. A dose of 2.5 mg/ml of caffeine sodium benzoate depressed the hexose monophosphate shunt and glucose utilization. The depressive effect of caffeine on the hexose monophosphate shunt appeared when the dose was beyond 0.1 mg/ml, whereas the depression of glucose utilization did not appear until a dose of 1.0 mg was used. Incubations with glucose and sodium benzoate did not show such depression of the hexose monophosphate shunt or glucose utilization. Polymorphonuclear leukocytes obtained from a dog after caffeine intoxication showed depression of the hexose monophosphate shunt when compared to control leukocytes. Toxic doses of caffeine sodium benzoate, 150 mg/kg b.wt., produced leukocytosis in the peripheral blood when given to dogs.