Macrophage function in vitamin C-deficient guinea pigs.

Guinea pigs were fed a vitamin C-deficient diet and at various time periods thereafter their peritoneal cells were tested for biological activity. The serum levels of vitamin C in the deficient animals indicated a progressive state of ascorbic acid deficiency with time and this correlated well with clinical signs and symptoms of scurvy. Fewer macrophages were obtained from the peritoneal cavities of deficient animals and in structural appearance under the phase contrast and light microscope they were smaller in size. They showed no significant impairment in phagocytosis of bacterial cells. The macrophages, however, exhibited significantly reduced migration on glass as compared to the normal cells. In vitro addition of vitamin C partially reversed this reduced migration.