Abstract

Because cortisone has a depressive effect on the RES, while estrogen has stimulating effect on it, it was thought to be of interest to compare the two hormones with regard to the effect on modification of the reticuloendothelial organs of the rats treated with methylcellulose. The phagocytotic activity was assessed by carbon clearance method, and the morphological investigation was carried out on the reticuloendothelial organs, liver and spleen. The results obtained were as follows. 1. In the methylcellulose-treated group, the phagocytotic activity was shown, to be decreased as compared with that of the normal rats. There was marked proliferation of macrophages phagocytosed methylcellulose, but no increase in acid phosphatase activity, PAS positive granules and hemosiderin granules was noted. 2. In the methylcellulose plus cortisone-treated group, the phagocytotic activity was shown to be more decreased than that of methylcellulose or cortisone-treated group. The liver stowed slight fatty metamorphosis and more markedly increased activity of phosphatase, but relatively normal architecture was maintained. The spleen showed conspicuous regressive changes such as atrophy of the follicles, necrosis and marked reduction in hemosiderin granules. 3. In the methylcellulose plus estrogen-treated group, cellular and functional alterations of the reticuloendothelial organs seemed to be similar to those of methylcellulose-treated group. From these results, it may be concluded that cortisone influences markedly the functional and cellular modification of the reticuloendothelial organs of the rats treated with methylcellulose. On the contrary, however, estrogen dose not.