Alveolar macrophages. I. A simple technique for the preparation of high numbers of viable alveolar macrophages from small laboratory animals.

A simple technique is described for the collection of substantial numbers of alveolar macrophages by repeated in situ endobronchial lavage. Macrophage recoveries are maximized by the inclusion of the local anaesthetic lignocaine in the lavage fluids. The technique is suitable for mice, rats and guinea pigs, and yields up to 2.4, 6.7 and 25.3 X 10(6) viable macrophages per animal from these 3 species respectively. A one-step adherence procedure yields alveolar macrophages in excess of 95% purity.