[Macrophage depletion test in guinea pigs]

Abstract

In the present investigations heterologous lymphokine-containing fluids were examined in albino guinea pigs for their macrophage depletion activity. Cell-free ascites from Ehrlich ascites tumor and leukemia L 1210 of mice as well as supernatants of PHA-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocyte cultures were used. Ascites of Ehrlich's ascitic tumor and Leukemia L 1210 led to a significant depletion of macrophages. The application of supernatants of PHA-stimulated human lymphocyte cultures resulted in a dose-dependent reduction of peritoneal macrophages. On the other hand, a stimulation of the number of peritoneal macrophages by control supernatants of non-stimulated lymphocyte cultures was observed. The findings indicate the existence of two lymphokines having opposite effects.