PHAGOCYTOSIS AND MICROBICIDAL CAPACITY OF MOUSE MACROPHAGES NON-SPECIFICALLY ACTIVATED IN VITRO

Mouse macrophages cultured in a medium containing 50 per cent newborn calf serum (NBCS) were shown to undergo a characteristic development. Their size as well as their content of phase-lucent and phase-dense granules increased. The cell content of the lysosomal enzyme acid phosphatase was increased. In contrast, macrophages from the same source and cultured in a medium containing 50 per cent foetal calf serum (FCS) were not activated in this way. NBCS-activated macrophages had a markedly enhanced capacity to phagocytose Toxoplasma gondii and Listeria monocytogenes, as compared with macrophages cultured in FCS. However, their ability to restrict the intracellular multiplication of these micro-organisms was not markedly increased.