Alterations in rabbit alveolar macrophages as a result of traumatic shock

Biochemical and electron microscope studies were conducted to determine the effects of traumatic shock on rabbit alveolar macrophages. Both resting and phagocytosing macrophages from the shocked animals, in comparison to comparable control macrophages, showed increased release of acid phosphatase from the cells into medium upon incubation in vitro, but decreases in the total content of acid phosphatase and beta-glucuronidase. Studies by electron microscopy showed ultrastructural alterations in macrophages from shocked animals consisting of a reduction in the number or a complete absence of lysosomes and, in some cases, increased amounts of rough endoplasmic reticulum and free ribosomes. In vitro incubation of macrophages from shocked animals with Pseudomonas aeruginosa showed that the process of bacterial ingestion was not impaired nor were the numbers of bacteria ingested decreased as compared to control macrophages. However, the ability of macrophages from shocked animals to destroy ingested bacteria appeared to be significantly altered. Extensive degradation of Pseudomonas was observed within phagocytic vacuoles of control macrophages after 15 minutes of incubation. In contrast, the majority of ingested organisms in macrophages from shocked animals showed no evidence of degradative changes.