Phagocytic activity of Kupffer cells in splenectomized rats.

Carbonized polyethylene microspheres of 3.53 micron diameter were injected intravenously into splenectomized, laparotomized, and untreated rats. The number of Kupffer cells which phagocytosed microspheres and the number of microspheres phagocytosed by single Kupffer cells were counted. The number of Kupffer cells which phagocytosed microspheres was 1.51 times greater in splenectomized rats than in untreated rats, and 1.29 times greater in splenectomized rats than in laparotomized rats, both values being statistically significant. Although this same value was 1.18 times greater in laparotomized rats than in untreated rats, this was not statistically significant. The number of microspheres phagocytosed by single Kupffer cells also increased significantly in splenectomized rats. The intra-acinar distribution of the phagocytosing Kupffer cells showed the number in the periportal area to be 8-9 times greater than in the central area in all 3 groups. No significant difference in this intra-acinar distribution was observed between the groups. In addition, there was no difference in the phagocytic activity of Kupffer cells and the distribution of phagocytosing Kupffer cells between the hepatic lobes.