Phagocytic capability of the kidney: a possible mechanism for renal uptake of colloid in liver-spleen scanning.

Guinea pigs were given Trypan blue or India ink i.v. and i.m. to demonstrate whether proximal convoluted tubule cells of the normal kidney have potential phagocytic capability. Circulating colloidal particles of Trypan blue solution accumulated in these cells and the accumulation was related to the particle size, dose injection, and duration of experiment. These studies suggest an explanation for the clinical observation of renal visualization with 99mTc-sulfur colloid in patients with congestive heart failure.