Influence of fluorocarbon blood substitute on phagocytic function of liver and spleen

Colloidal 108Au uptake, used as a measure of the function of RES in mice, decreased to about 50 % of the control value within 2 d after iv infusion of fluorocarbon emulsion (FCE) 50 ml/kg. then recovered on d 7. FCE (15 ml/kg) was given by iv infusion to rabbits qd x 6 d. The serum acid phosphatase (SACP) showed a 2.5-fold increase. and returned to control level after 7 wks. Maximal storage of FCE was attained in spleen and liver of rats 24 h after FCE infusion. The increases in weights differed : A maximal increase occurred in spleen on d 5. and in liver on d 14. There were ballooning foamy cells in spleen and liver. FCE was found in the macrophage cytoplasm. All inclusions appeared to be spherical within membrane-bound phagolysosomes, Results suggest that the large amounts of FCE retained in liver and spleen on d 2 would induce a reduction of phagocytic activity in reticulohistiocytes. FCE is a powerful blocking agent of macrophages in liver and spleen.