Attachment and ingestion of mycoplasmas by mouse macrophages. II. Scanning electron microscopic observations.

Mycoplasmas adhere closely to the central region of the surface of mouse peritoneal macrophages in vitro. They do not appear connected to each other or the macrophage membrane, and they induce no change in the surface of the cell. After addition of antimycoplasma antibody, mycoplasmas show interconnections and the cell shows an increase occurrence of ruffled membrane and folding over the mycoplasmas. Large and small lacunae appear in the membrane at sites other than those taking in organisms, and the cell develops a diffusely granular appearance. These changes are associated with an increase in pinocytosis of horseradish peroxidase that is 85% above controls. Five minutes after addition of antibody, the macrophage appears contracted and engorged and has persistent membrane changes consisting of pits, openings, and membrane folds. Trypsin causes slow ingestion of surface mycoplasmas without the obvious membrane folding over organisms but with evidence of a predominantly invaginating process of phagocytosis. The macrophage surface has numerous microprojections, but is does not have the granular appearance seen after addition of antibody. Trypsin and Mycoplasma pulmonis antigen do not enhance macrophage pinocytic rates. (Am J Pathol 87:347-358, 1977).