LYSOSOMAL STABILIZING EFFECT OF CHLORPHENTERMINE IN THE RABBIT ALVEOLAR MACROPHAGE

1. Rabbits were injected (i.p.) daily with chlorphentermine (30 mg/kg), 5 days a week for 7 weeks. 2. Alveolar macrophages were collected from the lungs of control and treated rabbits by pulmonary lavage. 3. When compared to controls, the latencies of the lysosomal acid hydrolases, acid phosphatase and β-N-acetyl glucosaminidase were increased in lysosome-containing fractions from alveolar macrophages of treated rabbits. The same results were obtained when chlorphentermine was incubated in vitro with a lysosomal fraction from macrophages of normal rabbits. 4. The increased latency of lysosomal enzymes following chlorphentermine treatment can be explained by the drug's ability to stabilize lysosomal membranes. © 1979.