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 globulines, protein and hemoglobin to investigate age-dependent differences in the phagocytosis of erythrocyte membranes. Membranes of young erythrocytes were phagocytised in a significantly higher rate than those of old ones. The control parameters of the liver function were also significantly higher during the increased phagocytosis of the young cells than that of old cells and cells of the control group.