RPE cells from normal rats do not secrete a factor which enhances the phagocytosis of ROS by dystrophic rat RPE cells.

Retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) cells from normal and dystrophic rats were grown separately and in mixed culture for 7 days, without a change of growth medium. Isolated rod outer segments (ROS) were suspended in the conditioned medium from these cells, and were fed to the mixed or pure RPE cell cultures. No increase or decrease in the phagocytosis of ROS by dystrophic or normal RPE cells, respectively, was observed. These results suggest that normal RPE cells do not secrete a diffusible factor(s) which enhances the phagocytosis of ROS by dystrophic RPE cells.