Influence of reticuloendothelial hyperfunction on bone marrow transplantation

¹ Department of Physiology, University of Tennessee Medical Units, Memphis, Tennessee

Reticuloendothelial (RE) hyperfunction was induced in C₅₇/BL mice by the administration of trypsinized zymosan or glucan. The exposure of RE hyperfunctional mice to 800 r whole-body X-irradiation produced no change in phagocytic activity as denoted by the intravascular removal rate of colloidal carbon. The saline-injected control group showed a significant impairment in RE phagocytic activity. Reticuloendothelial hyperfunction existing at the time of bone marrow transplantation did not alter the high degree of recovery from radiation exposure afforded by isologous bone marrow transplantation. However, survival in RE hyperfunctional animals appeared to be correlated to the genetic diversity of the transplanted marrow since RE hyperactive animals receiving the homo- or heterografts manifested a 100% mortality as opposed to a 30-day survival of 90% and 25% in the respective saline-treated irradiated mice. These findings demonstrate that the early acceptance or rejection of the transplant is influenced by the functional state of the RES and the genetic variation of the transplant.

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