Open AccessCytokinetic Analysis of the Expanding Kupffer‐Cell Population Inrat Liver
Author(s) -
Bouwens L.,
Baekeland M.,
Wisse E.
Publication year - 1986
Publication title -
cell proliferation
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.647
H-Index - 74
eISSN - 1365-2184
pISSN - 0960-7722
DOI - 10.1111/j.1365-2184.1986.tb00732.x
Subject(s) - kupffer cell , biology , population , microbiology and biotechnology , immunology , medicine , environmental health
. Zymosan stimulation in rats provides a useful model for studying the expansion of the Kupffer‐cell population in liver, which represents the major population of tissue macrophages. This study, using tritiated‐thymidine‐labelling experiments, demonstrates that during population expansion at least 90% of the resident macrophages (Kupffer cells) develop proliferative activity. the mean duration of the cell cycle is estimated to be 52 hr, with an S phase of 7 hr. We have calculated that about 75% of population expansion results from local Kupffer‐cell replication, whereas the remaining growth results from extrahepatic recruitment of macrophage precursors. These findings conflict with a concept of the mononuclear phagocyte system, which states that resident macrophages are (monocyte‐derived) non‐dividing end‐cells.