Activity of the reticuloendothelial system and the antibody response. I. Effect of stilboestrol on RES activity and localization of sheep erythrocytes in the mouse.

The stimulatory effect of stilboestrol on the RES of the mouse was assessed in terms of the blood clearance and organ uptake of colloidal carbon, sheep RBC and heat damaged mouse RBC, and comparison made between the effect on the RES of stilboestrol and endotoxin. Pretreatment with stilboestrol caused an increase of hepatic uptake of test materials and a reduction of carbon and SRBC localization in the spleen. Incorporation of [H]thymidine and the proportion of labelled cells were increased in livers and spleens of stilboestrol treated animals.