Heterogeneity of rat liver and spleen macrophages in gadolinium chloride–induced elimination and repopulation

Blockade of phagocytosis and selective elimination of macrophages (m phi s) are generally accepted procedures for gaining knowledge about the function of m phi s in vivo. This study demonstrates that intravenous injection of gadolinium chloride (GdCl3) not only blocks phagocytosis by rat liver m phi s (Kupffer cells) but also selectively eliminates the large m phi s situated in the periportal zone of the liver acinus. Repopulation of m phi s starts at 4 days after injection. During repopulation, m phi s are less vulnerable to GdCl3. When repopulation is complete, the new m phi s show the same vulnerability as the original ones. Splenic m phi s are less vulnerable to GdCl3 because only some of the red pulp m phi s transiently disappear. The white pulp m phi s are not affected. Repopulation occurs sooner than in liver. These results indicate that administration of GdCl3 is a suitable approach to studying the in vivo function of large Kupffer cells.