Selective effects of thermal injury on mouse peritoneal macrophages.

Normal mice or mice burned 6 days previously were injected intraperitoneally with either saline or 50 mug of concanavalin A. Four days after the injection the peritoneal macrophages were collected and examined in vitro. Macrophages from concanavalin A-injected mice appeared activated because several in vitro parameters of activity were increased. Examination of macrophages from burned animals revealed a selective depression of macrophage activity.