Relation between bactericidal and phagocytic activities of peritoneal macrophages induced by irritants

Bactericidal activity against Listeria monocytogenes and phagocytic function against sheep red blood cells (SRBC) were studied in mice to which various irritants were given i.p. Although thioglycollate-induced macrophages phagocytosed native SRBC, their bactericidal capacity was poor compared with that of normal resident macrophages. Corynebacterium parvum-induced macrophages, however, effectively inhibited the growth of Listeria and exhibited strong phagocytic activity against SRBC. It was suggested that free macrophages accumulating in the induced inflammatory region had different functional activities depending on irritants used.