A comparative study of functional activity and cytochemical characteristics of human and rabbit microphages.

Substantial differences were found in the cytochemical indices of human and rabbit microphages. Regular changes in the enzymic activity and the levels of some biopolymers were observed in the microphages in the process of phagocytosis. The extent and (in some cases) tendency of these changes in human and rabbit microphages are not the same. Cytochemical indices provide significant information on the functional activity of the microphage system within one species. At the interspecies level, such information proves to be inadequate for the characteristic of the phagocytic ability of microphages unless humoral non-specific means of protection are taken into account.