Species differences in Kupffer cells and endotoxin sensitivity

Abstract

The relative species sensitivity to Escherichia coli O111:B4 endotoxin was found to be guinea pig > hamster > mouse > rat. The 50% lethal dose of this endotoxin correlated with both the rate at which single latex particles were phagocytosed by individual Kupffer cells and the number of Kupffer cells in hepatic lobules that phagocytosed latex. The results suggest that the intrahepatic density and the level of activation of Kupffer cells participate in determining endotoxin sensitivity.