Adherent and non-adherent mouse peritoneal exudate cells

Administration of proteose peptone to donors of peritoneal exudate cells resulted not only in quantitative increase in the mono-histiocytic cells but also in their activation as judged by their rapid adherence to surfaces, strong acid phosphatase reaction and increased numbers of lysosomes and phagocytic vacuoles. The three-hour adherent fraction of peritoneal exudate cells (from normal as well as peptone-stimulated mice) contains a large number of activated lymphocytes and fibroblastoid cells and is not enriched in macrophages. Moreover, the adherent cells, when collected by scraping, are unsuitable for immediate biological use since they lose the enzymatic equipment. For purification of histiocytes and macrophages by adherence, the 2-day cultivation of peritoneal cells was found to be optimal, as judged by the number of acid phosphatase positive cells. Their decrease after 4-day cultivation may indicate over-growth of the fibroblast and epithelial cell lineages. The non-adherent fraction was found to be enriched in lymphocytes as well as in mast cells; numerous macrophages were observed, too.