EFFECT OF 3 DAYS STARVATION ON THE PHAGOCYTIC-ACTIVITY OF RAT PERITONEAL-MACROPHAGES

To examine the effect of starvation on the phagocytic activity of rat peritoneal macrophages, 8 animals were kept for 3 days on water supply only. The cells showed an increased capacity for superoxide anion pro duction and a marked decrease in their ability to engulf latex particl es. The corticosterone level of the fasting animals was markedly incre ased, an observation suggesting that the alteration of macrophage func tion could be hormonally mediated. The findings in the present study i ndicate that the decreased phagocytic capacity of peritoneal macrophag es following starvation may be one of the factors responsible for the increased susceptibility to infections in malnourished individuals.