The Effect of Reticulo-Endothelial Blockade on the Capillary Resistance Responses to Cortisone and Sth

Abstract

A variety of functions has been attributed to the reticuloendothelial system. Among these are phagocytosis of foreign bodies, either micro-organisms or colloids, antibody production, destruction of red blood cells and bile pigment production, some role in lipid and Vitamin A metabolism and formation of a substance affecting neuromuscular conduction (3,19). More recently has been suggested a role in resistance to drum trauma (20), swimming stress (25) and radiation (28). These latter functions point to the R.E. system as playing some integral part in the stress response. | With this idea and the role of corticosteroids in stress in mind, the experiment of Essellier and Wagner seems especially interesting. These investigators showed that R.E. blockade with trypan blue abolished the eosinopenic response to ACTE (6). | This result has since been disputed (8,9,18) but one of these disputing papers reported abolition of stress induced eosinopenia by R.E. block (18). | In view of the contrasting observations on the effect of the R.E. system on ACTE and cortisone activity, it was decided to attempt to resolve this controversy. Instead of using eosinophile counts as an index of corticois activity, capillary resistance was employed. This is justified by the work of Kramer and his associates (12,15) and Wilhelmj and associates (33) who have shown a definite and marked inverse relationship between the eosinopnile count and the capillary resistance. The demonstration that STH antagonizes the capillary resistance effect of cortisone as well as decreasing C.R. when used alone (32) prompted the investigation of the effect of the R.2. blockade on the activity of STH.