Functional and metabolic changes of guinea pig peritoneal macrophages induced by bacterial vaccines.

Phagocytic activity of peritoneal macrophages of guinea pigs injected subcutaneously with bacterial vaccines was found to be increased. The phagocytic index remained unchanged or was decreased. In addition, a decreased candidacidal activity was observed. Metabolic activation of macrophages, measured by the INT test, was inhibited in unstimulated cells while cells stimulated with zymosan or opsonized zymosan exhibited higher values of the INT test as compared with control animals. After injection of vaccines the number of peritoneal macrophages was increased, but the spleen mass decreased.