A MICROCALORIMETRIC METHOD TO STUDY THE ACTIVATION OF MURINE PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES

A novel microcalorimetric method was used to continuously follow chang es in the overall metabolic energy expenditure of rat peritoneal macro phages during PMA activation. Macrophages were isolated from: (1) heal thy animals; (2) animals suffering from D-galactosamine induced acute liver injury (ALI); and (3) animals which sustained a glycerol induced renal failure (RF). Results from measurements on macrophages taken fr om healthy animals showed that microcalorimetric findings were reprodu cible and consistent with luminometric recordings of released reactive oxygen species. However, discrepancies were observed between results obtained with the two techniques in the ALI and RF groups, indicating differences in the mechanism by which these two conditions affect the macrophage system.