Is Percoll innocuous to cells?

Abstract

Peritoneal macrophages from mice, isolated rat liver Kupffer cells and rat testis Leydig cells ingested large numbers of Percoll particles, a gradient medium widely used for separation of cells and subcellular organelles by density-gradient centrifugation. A decrease in the percentage of macrophages adhering to plastic also occurred after exposure of the cells to Percoll, even at 4 degrees C, a temperature at which Percoll was not ingested. The effect of Percoll on macrophage adherence may involve a loose association between the density medium and the cell surface. Other cell-surface-related phenomena may also be affected by prior exposure of cells to Percoll.