Effect of a cholesterol-rich diet on cholesterol content and phagocytic activity of rat macrophages.
Treatment for 11-13 weeks with a cholesterol-rich diet induced increases in free and esterified serum cholesterol. There was also an increase in free cholesterol of peritoneal macrophages. A 2.2 times rise in the cholesterol to phospholipid ratio of plasma membranes occurred in cholesterol-enriched macrophages. No changes were observed in phagolysosomes. Cholesterol-enriched macrophages showed a 35.8% inhibition of latex particles phagocytosis. When lipid droplets were substituted for latex the inhibition was 81.7%.
D000818:Animals; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000032:analysis; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism*; D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D008264:Macrophages / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000502:physiology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008297:Male; D010587:Phagocytosis; D010743:Phospholipids / Q000032:analysis; D051381:Rats
D002791:Cholesterol, Dietary; D010743:Phospholipids; D002784:Cholesterol