INDUCED AUTOPHAGOCYTOSIS IN MACROPHAGES. ORIGIN OF THE SEGREGATING MEMBRANES

Cultured mouse peritoneal macrophages were exposed for 48 h to a large and toxic dose of polyacrylamide microspheres (previously designed for use as a lysosomotropic carrier for the intracellular delivery of enzymes and other macromolecules). This treatment induced autophagocytosis in the macrophages, which contained abundant autophagic vacuoles at 24 h post exposure. Transmission electron microscopical studies including enzyme cytochemistry...