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Influence of Splenectomy on Thymic Release of Lymphocytes into the Blood
Author(s) -
Ernström U.,
Sandberg G.
Publication year - 1970
Publication title -
scandinavian journal of haematology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.904
H-Index - 84
eISSN - 1600-0609
pISSN - 0036-553X
DOI - 10.1111/j.1600-0609.1970.tb01912.x
Subject(s) - splenectomy , spleen , lymphocytosis , lymph , medicine , lymphocyte , phagocytosis , endocrinology , immunology , pathology
Migration of thymic cells into the blood was studied 3, 7, 14 and 28 days after splenectomy or sham‐operation of young guinea‐pigs. This was done by determination of the content of different white cells in thymic afferent and efferent blood, the lymphocytes being divided into subclasses with different mitochondrial content. Also, the weights of the remaining lymphoid organs were registered. The following effects of splenectomy were obtained. Early after splenectomy, the experiments indicated increased release of lymphocytes from the thymus. Thus, at 3 days the thymic veno‐arterial difference in number of lymphocytes with 0–5 mitochondria (smallest cells) was increased above that in the sham‐operated animals. At 7 days after splenectomy the increase included both lymphocytes with low and also with medium mitochondrial content (small and medium‐sized lymphocytes). Later after splenectomy, the thymic veno‐arterial lymphocyte difference was no longer increased. At 28 days, lymphocytosis occurred in the blood, concurrent with increased weight of cervical lymph nodes. It is proposed that these effects of splenectomy are caused by the loss of normal inhibition of lymphocyte production exerted by the spleen.