Stochastic aspects of leukocyte transit in hamster cheek pouch arterioles.

To clarify the dynamics of leukocyte delivery to the capillary network we measured leukocyte velocity (Vwbc), leukocyte flux and the intra-arrival times between successive leukocytes in terminal arterioles of the cheekpouch of eight hamsters. The sequences, generated electronically when fluorescent leukocytes passed a fixed point in the arteriole, were analyzed as stochastic point processes. Results showed that six sequences were stationary, and two with a linear trend in Vwbc, were not.