Abstract
Summary
The comparative evaluation of the endotoxin-detoxifying capacity of diverse populations of rat macrophages was undertaken in order to define the relative role of macrophages in endotoxemia. Actinomycin D-treated mice were employed in the bioassay of submicrogram amounts of endotoxin. Sonicate preparations of rat pulmonary alveolar, peritoneal, hepatic, and splenic macrophages were found to possess significant endotoxin-detoxifying activity. Kupffer cells manifested the greatest activity. In contrast, liver parenchymal cell sonicates did not detoxify endotoxin. The demonstrated endotoxin-detoxifying capacity of macrophages further accept the protective role of macrophages in host defense against endotoxins.
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