Activity of mouse macrophages purified by adherence to, and removal from, a plastic surface.

Mouse peritoneal exudate macrophages were allowed to adhere to plastic Petri dishes and, after washing, were removed by means of EDTA. Cells with the morphology of macrophages were recovered in a fair degree of purity (90-98%) but in low yield (31-34%). The macrophages recovered were fully active in the following ways: re-adherence to glass; pinocytosis of colloidal gold; phagocytosis of opsonized sheep erythrocytes; binding cytophilic antibody; production of lymphocyte activating factor; cytotoxic and cytostatic effects on tumour cells.