PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES WHICH PHAGOCYTOSE AUTOLOGOUS POLYMORPHONUCLEAR LEUKOCYTES IN GUINEA-PIGS .1. INDUCTION BY IRRITANTS AND MICROORGANISMS AND INHIBITION BY COLCHICINE

  • 1 January 1982
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 63  (3) , 278-284
Abstract
In order to examine macrophages phagocytosing polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) in detail, a new method was established whereby a large number of PMN-phagocytosing macrophages (PPM) were easily induced. PPM were harvested from the peritoneal cavity after thioglycollate medium, oyster glycogen, phytohemagglutinin (PHA), Listeria monocytogenes or Staphylococcus aureus had been injected i.p. into guinea pigs. When thioglycollate medium or oyster glycogen was injected i.p., the number of the PPM reached a peak 48 h later and PPM formed .gtoreq. 20% of total macrophages. When L. monocytogenes or S. aureus, was injected i.p., the ratio of PPM to total macrophages reached a peak 24 h later. Morphologically, some of the phagocytosed PMN were not degenerated and the others were at various stages of degeneration. The ability of macrophages to phagocytose PMN was suppressed when 10-6 mol/kg of colchicine was administered i.p. 1 day after the injection of the irritants.