Function of Phagocytes in Experimentally Induced Colitis in Rabbits I.

Abstract

Adhesion, random and chemotactic migration, phagocytosis and nitroblue tetrazolium (NBT) dye reduction of peritoneal exudate polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN) and macrophages were examined in 110 rabbits with immune complex-mediated colitis and in controls. We may conclude that Arthus-like colitis in rabbits is accompanied by an impairment of adhesion and phagocytosis, and an increase in chemotactic and random migration of both PMN and macrophages. The examined phagocytes were obtained from the peritoneal cavity, and the changes in their function are related much more directly to the presence of circulating immune complexes than to the colitis. The mentioned impairment in their function may be responsible for prolonged persistence of immune complexes in the serum of rabbits with colitis; however, it does not prolong the time of healing of the ulcers.

Function of Phagocytes in Experimentally Induced Colitis in Rabbits II.

“…Peritoneal exudate granulocytes and macrophages were iso lated as described elsewhere [16]. Peripheral blood was drawn from the central ear artery of each animal.…”

“…Mononuclear cells were iso lated from peripheral blood in accordance with a modification [17] of the method of Boyurn [18] over a gradient of Ficoll (Pharmacia, Uppsala, Sweden) and Uropolinum (Polfa). The isolated cells from peritoneal exudate and peripheral blood mononuclear cells were examined microscopically after staining with peroxidase and nonspecific esterase [16,17]. The viability of cells (always >92%) was tested by trypan blue exclusion.…”

“…Chemotactic and random migration was studied in accordance with a modification [19] of the methods of Cutler [20] and Nelson et al [21]. Details are presented in the first part of the paper [16].…”