Total Acid Phosphatase Content of Peritoneal Leucocytes Obtained from 1-Triiodothyronine Treated Guinea Pigs.

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Abstract
Recent experiments have demonstrated a greater than normal bactericidal activity of peritoneal macrophages obtained from guinea pigs previously treated with 1-triiodothyronine. Similar observations also suggest that there is a heightened bactericidal activity of rabbit pulmonary macrophages, in vivo, during experimental hyperthyroidism induced by this drug. The possibility exists, that administration of 1-triiodothyronine to animals leads to an increase in the quantity of the lysosomal enzymes present in reticuloendothelial cells. In this way the observed increase in cytopeptic activity of macrophages of triiodothyronine treated animals may be explained. To test this, guinea pigs were injected with 1-triiodothyronine in doses ranging from 10 [mu]g to 25 [mu]g daily over 4 weeks of treatment. Assay of acid phosphatase content of peritoneal leucocytes, performed at the end of that time, revealed a significantly greater quantity of this lysosome-bound enzyme in peritoneal exudate cells of treated animals as compared with controls. It is suggested that the enhanced bactericidal activity of reticuloendothelial cells in 1-triiodothyronine-treated animals is due to an increased cell content of lysosomal enzymes, including acid phosphatase, with resultant functional increases in the cytopeptic activity of these cells.