The fundamental function of the reticuloendothelial system (R. E. S.) is phagocytic activity which constitutes three stages such as adsorption (engulfment), digestion and segregation (transaction). For testing the function of RES, kongo red clearance, Au
198 colloid clearance etc. have been used, but recently, iron-chondroitin sulfate Fe
59 colloid proved to be more useful for observing each stage of the process of phagocytic activity, because of this compound is separated into chondroitin sulfate and iron after intravenous injection. The former is taken up by kupffer stellate cell and the latter is released from RE cell.
Since the function of RES is said to be degraded in the aged, the present study was attempted to clarify RES function with advancing age.
For experimental animal, dd mice was used and divided in four groups as follows: 1) new born mice (10 days old), 2) adult mice (30 days old), 3) aged mice (365 days old), 4) hypercholestelemic or/and arteriosclerosis mice feeding with lanolin.
Iron chondroitin sulfate Fe
59 colloid was injected intravenously, 0.5mg/l μCi/20g. weight. In order to elucidate phagocytic and iron processing function of RES, plasma clearance and incorporation of Fe
59 into erythrocytes were measured, and organ distribution of iron-chondroitin sulfate Fe
59 was examined by radioactivity counting after autopsy following washed with saline solution.
Autoradiograph was carried out by sacrificed at various time, and immersed in a mixture of solid carbon dioxide and aceton, then sagittal section were cut through the whole frozen mice and dried in a freeze room at -10°C. The autoradiographic exposures were made by apposition against X-Ray Film. The results were obtained as follows:
(1) Disappearance rate of plasma clearance of Chondroitin sulfate Fe
59 colloid of (1) and (2) groups is faster than that of (3) and (4), and incorporation of Fe
59 into erythrocytes is higher and earlier than that of (3) and (4) groups.
(2) The concentration of radioactivity in the liver of (1) and (2) groups are higher than that of (3) and (4) groups at 15 minutes after injection.
(3) The disappearance rate of radioactivity in the liver revealed faster in the groups (1) and (2). at 6 hours after injection.
(4) The concentration of radioactivity in the spleen is highest in the group (4), which may acount for the splenomegaly.
(5) Autoradiogram displayed delayed uptake of chondroitin sulfate Fe
59 in the heart in the group (4) and (3).
(6) As conclusion, it is proved that function of RES is degraded with advancing age.
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