[The effect of hypoxia on the function and metabolism of alveolar macrophages]

Cytochysiological and cytophotometric studies carried out for 9-11 days on rabbits showed that hypoxic hypoxia (equivalent to the altitude of 5000 m) led to depression of the phagocytic activity of the alveolar macrophages. Simultaneously macrophages of the lungs displayed an increase in the activity of lactic and glucoso-6-phosphoric dehydrogenases, and a reduction of malic dehydrogenase activity. Experiments carried out in vitro with the macrophages of guinea pig lungs demonstrated that cell respiration served as the principal source of energy required for phagocytosis. A conclusion was drawn that respiratory inhibition in hypoxia was not compensated by activation of glucolysis and glucose metabolism in the pentose shunt and was the principal cause of disturbances of the phagocytic function of macrophages of the lungs.