Abstract
THE reticulo-endothelial cells are known to form an important part of the defence mechanism of the body against infection. At the site of acute infections, neutrophil leucocytes attack the invading organisms while the reticulo-endothelial macrophages phagocytose the dead bacteria and dead tissue cells. In chronic infections such as tuberculosis, the phagocytic activity of the macrophages forms the main line of defence against the invading organisms. Further, there is much circumstantial evidence in both acute and chronic infections to show that the reticulo-endothelial cells raise the humoral resistance of the patient by the production of antibodies. It has already been demonstrated that the phagocytic activity of the reticulo-endothelial system is stimulated by œstrogens1; that cortisone2, testosterone, androstene-3β-17α-diol3 depress the phagocytic activity; and that deoxycorticosterone4 has no appreciable effect.
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References
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NICOL, T., SNELL, R. Effect of Ethisterone, β-Œstradiol and Progesterone on the Phagocytic Activity of the Reticulo-Endothelial System. Nature 179, 261 (1957). https://doi.org/10.1038/179261a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/179261a0
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