[Stage-classification of reticuloendothelial function in hepatic injuries in the rat]

The serial changes of RE function were classified into 3 stages according to changes in opsonic activity and phagocytic index in hepatectomized, CCl4-treated cirrhotic rats; enhanced stage, compensating stage and critical stage. The phagocytic index was measured by initial disappearance rate after 4 mg/kg i.v. injection of 51Cr-labelled LPS. An opsonic activity was determined by the bioassay method using cultured RE cells prepared from the normal rat liver. The enhanced stage was characterized by an enhancement in both phagocytic index and opsonic activity--3 to 21 day-70% hepatectomized, 2 to 5 day-40% hepatectomized, 3 week-cirrhotic rats. The compensating stage by increased opsonic activity and normal phagocytic index was 2 day-70% hepatectomized and 9 week-cirrhotic rats. The critical stage by decreased phagocytic index was 5 hour to 1 day-70% hepatectomized, 13 week-cirrhotic rats.