The Mitotic Potential of Fixed Phagocytes in the Liver as Revealed During the Development of Cellular Immunity

Fixed macrophages in the liver of the mouse undergo mitosis in large numbers during an infection with Listeria monocytogenes. The macrophage mitotic response always precedes the expression of efficient host immunity to infection. It is suggested that macrophage proliferation is an important event in the development of host immunity to L. monocytogenes.