Ruffle formation in the evaluation of stimulatory state of hepatic macrophages in rats.
Morphological changes in hepatic macrophages after stimulation were observed with a transmission electron microscope in rats. In the normal liver ruffle formation occupied less than 30% of the cell surface facing the sinusoidal space in 21 of 25 macrophages. When the rats received a dose of carbon tetrachloride, hepatic macrophages 1 day later showed ruffle formation to the same extent as in normal rats. In contrast, in rats 6 days after a dose of Corynebacterium parvum, ruffle formation was intensified, and in 19 of 25 macrophages it was seen to occupy more than 30% of the cell surface (p less than 0.01); 9 of 10 macrophages with more than 70% of the cell surface affected belonged to these rats. Considering that hepatic macrophages at 1 or 6 days after treatment with carbon tetrachloride or Corynebacterium parvum are at the responsive or primed stages, respectively, measurement of the extent of ruffle formation in hepatic macrophages with a transmission electron microscope may provide a useful tool in estimating their stimulatory stage.
Ohno
A
A
Department of Internal Medicine, Faculty of Medicine, University of Tokyo, Japan.
Hirata
K
K
Ohta
Y
Y
Yamada
S
S
Mochida
S
S
Fujiwara
K
K
D000818:Animals; D002252:Carbon Tetrachloride Poisoning / Q000473:pathology; D008099:Liver / Q000473:pathology*; D008262:Macrophage Activation / Q000276:immunology*; D008264:Macrophages / Q000187:drug effects / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011425:Propionibacterium acnes / Q000276:immunology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains