In vitro studies on the phagocytosis of Staphylococcus aureus by peritoneal macrophages of New Zealand mice.

The ability of peritoneal macrophages from NZB, NZW and BWF1 mice to phagocytose and subsequently kill has been studied and compared to peritoneal macrophages from CBA, BALB/c and CHf mice. Phagocytic indices determined in young and old New Zealand mice did not differ from those of the control strains. The bactericidal activity of the peritoneal macrophages did not show any interstrain differences. Incorporation of serum from old and young NZB mice into the culture medium did not affect phagocytosis or the rate at which phagocytosed bacteria were killed. Studies performed in the absence of serum from the culture medium showed that probably both phagocytosis and bactericidal activity were unimpaired.