[Effect of leukocyte pyrogen on the phagocytic properties of macrophages in tissue culture]

The effect of rabbit leukocytic pyrogen (LP) on the phagocytic activity of the peritoneal macrophages of albino mice against shigellae was investigated. The dose-effect dependence was revealed: high LP doses depressed the phagocytosis, and low ones were insufficiently effective; addition of average LP doses against the kanamycin background stimulated both the absorption phase and that of shigella digestion. Phagocytosis stimulation with LP was also accompanied by an increase of the acid phosphatase lysosomal enzyme activity in macrophages; the RNA content was not changed.