Studies on the phagocytic capacity of macrophage polykaryons

Abstract

Following the demonstration of Chambers that simultaneous attachment of macrophages to endocytogenic material in vitro leads to fusion, as analysis of the phagocytic potential of giant cells has provided evidence that the same mechanism is operating in macrophage polykaryon formation in vivo. Unlike previously proposed models for macrophage fusion, fusion by simultaneous attempted endocytosis is associated with the interiorization of surface membrane during fusion. This occurs during glass coverslip-induced fusion in vivo [of hamster macrophages]. It is apparently the endocytogenic material produced in the granulomatous environment which leads to fusion, not necessarily the simultaneous attempted endocytosis of the implanted foreign material.