Effect of Cholesterol Oleate on the Phagocytic Function of the Reticulo-Endothelial System

Abstract

THE cells of the reticulo-endothelial system in contact with the blood stream are found mainly in the liver and spleen. One of their more important functions is phagocytosis of particulate matter such as bacteria, virus, colloidal dyes or finely divided carbon. It seemed reasonable to assume that the function of these cells may be modified by the nature of ingested material. This hypothesis has been explored by injecting intravenously different suspensions of fatty acid esters of known chemical constitution and afterwards measuring the reticulo-endothelial system activity by the carbon clearance test. Thus it has been shown that glyceryl trioleate stimulates the reticulo-endothelial system function whereas ethyl oleate has a depressant action¹. This suggested that the alcohol with which the fatty acid was combined might be of importance in determining the biological actions of the ester. These findings have been confirmed and extended^2,3 using various esters derived either from glycerol or ethyl alcohol. Accordingly, it seemed of interest to study the effects of a cholesterol ester and compare its action with the substances previously mentioned.