Phagocytosis of erythrocyte membranes (white ghosts) from different species by the isolated perfused rat liver.

Autologous and heterologous erythrocyte membranes (white ghosts) - suspended in a perfusion medium free of immunoglobulins, proteins and hemoglobin - were offered for phagocytosis to isolated perfused livers of different rat strains. The mononuclear phagocyte system of the liver was able to phagocytize these membranes without opsonization. An immunological reaction between Kupffer cells and red cell membranes cannot be excluded, since autologous cell membranes are phagocytized at a higher rate than heterologous cell membranes.