Bromsulphalein Dye Retention Test as a Measure of Functional Activity of Reticulo-Endothelial System

Abstract

In the course of studies of the reticulo-endothelial system, it became apparent that some method of measurement of the function or degree of functional impairment obtained with the present so-called blockading methods, would be of great value in interpreting the experimental results. Of the various methods which offered themselves as tests, a dye excretion or clearance test, which depended upon the integrity of the reticulo-endothelial system seemed most suitable for adaptation to our needs.

Various dyes have been suggested as being selectively removed from the blood stream by the reticulo-endothelial system. Landsberger 1 reported using Congo Red for this purpose, but obtained inconstant results. Merklan and Wolf, 2 Saxl and Donath, 3 Shellong and Eisler, 4 and others have reported that phenoltetrachlorphthalein is removed from the blood stream by the reticulo-endothelial system. Herlitz 5 suggested that bromsulphalein might be removed from the blood by the macrophage system.

Klein and Levinson,⁶ using bromsulphalein, found that they could obtain definite retention of bromsulphalein following splenectomy, and rather more marked retention after injections of India ink in dogs. The availability of this dye, as well as its freedom from toxic manifestations led us to consider it as a measure of the functional impairment of the reticulo-endothelial system obtained with India ink and other “blockading” agents.