Influence of carrageenan on peritoneal macrophages.

BALB/c mice were given five intraperitoneal (i.p.) injections of lambda carrageenan (CGN lambda). Following this treatment, the viability, phagocytic capacity, bactericidal activity, interleukin 1 (IL-1)-producing ability and Ia+ cell content of the peritoneal plastic-adherent macrophage population was analysed. The present study demonstrates the enhancement of bactericidal activity, inhibition of the augmented Ia+ cell content after priming with sheep red blood cells (SRBC), and impairment of IL-1 production by peritoneal macrophages, although their viability and phagocytic function remained unaltered.