Macrophage phagocytic dysfunction and reduced metabolic response in experimental obstructive jaundice.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the metabolic response as measured by microcalorimetry and the phagocytic activity or peritoneal macrophages that had been harvested from jaundiced and normal rats and incubated with Escherichia coli in vitro.


METHODS
Open laboratory study.


METHODS
University departments of surgery and immunology.


METHODS
12 Male Sprague-Dawley rats.


METHODS
Ligation and transsection of the common bile duct (n = 6) or sham operation (n = 6).


METHODS
Metabolic response (pW/cell) measured by microcalorimetry and phagocytic function assessed by light microscopy after Giemsa stain two weeks after operation.


RESULTS
The mean (SEM) maximal metabolic response of macrophages and the metabolic rate one hour after inoculation with E coli were significantly reduced in jaundiced rats compared with controls (6.95 (1.95) compared with 27.39 (7.24), p = 0.005, and 5.50 (1.05) compared with 20.10 (3.35) p = 0.016, respectively) as were the number of E coli phagocytosed by macrophages harvested from jaundiced animals (p = 0.0002).


CONCLUSIONS
The reduced metabolic response and phagocytosis of E coli by peritoneal macrophages in rats by biliary obstruction is a sign of depressed reticuloendothelial function. This mechanism may explain the high incidence of infective complications inpatients with obstructive jaundice.
Ding
J W
JW
Department of Surgery, Lund University Hospital, Sweden.
Nässberger
L
L
Andersson
R
R
Bengmark
S
S
D000818:Animals; D002151:Calorimetry; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D002779:Cholestasis / Q000276:immunology* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004926:Escherichia coli; D017737:Macrophages, Peritoneal / Q000276:immunology*; D008297:Male; D010587:Phagocytosis; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley