Age dependent phagocytosis of red cell membranes by the reticulohistiocytary system of the isolated perfused rat liver.

Isolated rat livers were perfused with a medium free of immune globulins, protein and hemoglobin to investigate age-dependent differences in the phagocytosis of erythrocyte membranes. Membranes of young erythrocytes were phagocyted significantly more than those of old ones. The control parameters of the liver function also were significantly higher during the increased phagocytosis of the young cells than for the old cells and the control group. In the aged animals the characteristic of the elimination curve is changing. The old livers eliminated less ghosts than the young ones. These results are significant.