THE DYNAMICS OF RETICULOENDOTHELIAL BLOCKADE

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Abstract
The dynamics of "reticuloendothelial blockade" were studied in living rabbits and isolated, perfused rabbit livers utilizing gelatin as a blockading agent and Au198 stabilized in gelatin as a tracer. Employing this experimental model, the following observations were made. a) RES blockade was specific and dependent on the surface properties of the particle under study. b) RES blockade was not caused by saturation of hepatic removal mechanisms. c) RES1 blockade was not caused by depletion of demonstrable serum opsonins. d) RES blockade appeared to correlated with high circulatory levels of the blockading agent, per se. Thus, under the conditions employed, the term "reticuloendothelial blockade" was a misnomer, and the data suggest that blockade as often studied may be laboratory phenomenon induced by the continuing circulation of the blockading agent.