Ingestive Capacity of Peritoneal Macrophages from Mice Exposed to Hypobaric Hypoxia

摘要

At approximately 6-day intervals peritoneal macrophages were harvested from groups of mice exposed continuously to a simulated altitude of 18,000 ft. These cells were allowed to attach to suitable vessels and exposed to a suspension of Serratia marcescens. After a carefully controlled ingestion period bacteria were liberated from the phagocytes by freezing and thawing, and the ensuing quantitative assays were based on colony forming units of the micro-organisms in the resulting suspensions. The ingestive efficiency of peritoneal macrophages from mice exposed to altitude was generally less than that of peritoneal macrophages from non-exposed mice. This change in ingestive ability in relation to the time of exposure to hypobaric hypoxia is evidently a physiological reaction to the environmental conditions. The change in functional efficiency of the macrophage may be a factor in the susceptibility to infection of animals subjected to altitude. (Author)