[Erythrocyte aging and phagocytosis through the reticulohistiocytic system].
In the spleen no age-dependent erythrocyte-phagocytosis takes place. Either alterated red blood cells are reconstituted or eliminated. Physiologically aged erythrocytes are eliminated in the liver. Either they are directly bound to galactose receptors of the liver cells with following reconstitution or phagocytosis or after loading with specific immune-globulines and complement they are phagocyted and lysed by the Kupffer cells.