Leukocytic alkaline phosphatase; behavior during prolonged incubation and infection in normal and leukemic leukocytes.

T HE PRESENCE of alkalimse plsosphatase its segmented neutrophils has been well established. Although the origin, msature amid fumiction of this enzyme are poorly umsderstood, variations from the miornial leukocytic alkaline phosphatase activity have been demonstrated by biochensical amsd histoehemical methods. In chronic myelogemsous leukemia the emszynse is greatly deficient whereas its neutrophilic leukemoid reactions and its certaims mssyeloprohiferative disorders, there is a greatly increased activity.t’4 Ohservatiomss presented its this report on the behavior of alkalitse phosphatase after prolonged imscubation amid duritsg pyogenic infection have provided n-tore strikimig evidemsce of the enzynsatic differences in niorphologically similar cells iii some of the aI)ove disorders.