The fate and translocation of bacteriophage particles were investigated by observing the processes that follow single intravenous injections of large numbers of particles into normal dogs. The rate of disappearance of such particles from the circulation of dogs is rapid for an early interval of approximately 20 min. Later a more gradual disappearance is noted which lasts until the termination of the experiments at 90 min. The factors responsible for this process are discussed. Studies on the rate of urinary filtration of these particles have shown that the passage of such particles across the renal barrier, as assayed by samples taken from the ureter, is irregular but concentration dependent.Organs of the reticuloendothelial system such as the liver and spleen, concentrate phage particles 196- to 873-fold, respectively, over that found in plasma at an equivalent time. They are thus active in this process in a manner analogous to the clearance of larger particles like bacteria.On the basis of previous work and the recoveries of bacteriophage particles from samples of kidney, evidence is presented in support of the hypothesis that particles of this magnitude are distributed throughout the extracellular fluid volume.
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