Effects of an oral interferon-inducer on the hematopoietic and reticuloendothelial systems

Oral administration of the interferon-inducing compound, 2,7-bis[2-(diethylamino)ethoxy]fluoren-9-one dihydrochloride was associated with vacuolation and granulation of peripheral leukocytes in the mouse, rat, dog, and monkey. A concomitant alteration in the reticuloendothelial system also occurred which consisted of intracytoplasmic accumulation of ovoid structures with vacuolated centers in Kupffer cells of the liver and fixed macrophages of the spleen and lymph nodes. Smears of bone marrow revealed abnormal granules in myeloid cells as primitive as neutrophilic myelocytes, but the myeloid: erythroid ratio was not altered. The posttreatment regression of these effects was species-dependent. Further evaluation of these phenomena is in progress.