Method forIn SituEvaluation of Superoxide Production by Pulmonary Macrophages in the Rat

摘要

In order to investigate superoxide production by pulmonary macrophages in the rat, a route was created by ligating both the inferior and superior venae cavae and resecting the aorta after cannulation through the inferior vena cava into the right atrium of the heart. Lung perfusion was performed via this route with nitro blue tetrazolium. Although there was no formazan deposition throughout the lung, it became detectable in both alveolar and interstitial macrophages when phorbol myristate acetate was added to the perfusate. This deposition was markedly enhanced by previous injection ofCorynebacterium parvum.The deposition disappeared after further addition of Cu(Lys)2, a scavenger of superoxide anions. This procedure may be useful for estimatingin situthe ability of pulmonary macrophages to produce superoxide in the rat.