Effect of mytilan, a polysaccharide from Crenomytilus grayanus, on the functional activity of peritoneal macrophages

The studies showed that mytilan, a polysaccharide from Crenomytilus grayanus had a marked activating effect on macrophages evident from respective morphological changes and increased metabolic and functional activity of the macrophages. Exposure to mytilan resulted in an increase in the number of the macrophages and their size (optic microscopy), changes in their surface (scanning microscopy) and ultrastructural reconstruction of the cells (light microscopy). It was shown that subcutaneous and intraperitoneal administration of mytilan defined a decrease in the activity of 5'-nucleotidase in the macrophages of the peritoneal exudate from ++noninbred mice and mice CBA. Moreover, under the influence of mytilan the macrophage phagocytic activity against E. coli, S. aureus, P. aeruginosa and P. vulgaris increased in vivo and in vitro.