[Analysis of macrophage heterogeneity by their phagocytic activity].

Heterogeneity of resident peritoneal macrophages was studied as revealed by their phagocytosis and binding of sheep erythrocytes opsonized by specific rabbit IgG. It has been shown that the macrophage heterogeneity is due to the presence of active and inactive cellular subpopulations. A mathematical model, based on the Poisson fitting of experimental histograms, was elaborated for the analysis of subpopulation composition of macrophage pool in the test of rosette formation and phagocytosis. The validity of the model was supported by physicochemical isolation of the macrophage subpopulation which was inactive in erythrocyte binding. The macrophage pool was separated into fractions by absorption--elution at different temperatures. Active and inactive macrophage subpopulations were found in all the fractions but in different ratios.