Blood and marrow neutrophils during experimental group B streptococcal infection: quantification of the stem cell, proliferative, storage and circulating pools

In an attempt to explain the profound neutropenia and depletion of marrow neutrophil reserves observed in human and experimental group B streptococcal infection, the author have studied the stem cell, proliferative, storage, and circulating neutrophil pools in groups of adult and neonatal rats inoculated with 3 x 10 super(6) type II group B streptococci/g body weight. At intervals after incoluation, animals were sacrificed and the unipotent granulocytic stem cells, (Colony Forming Units in culture, CFU sub(c)) from the femoral marrow were quantified. In addition, the total body neutrophil proliferative pool, neutrophil storage pool, circulating blood neutrophil concentration and blood immature to total neutrophil ratio were measured.