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On the Origin of Foà‐Kurloff Cells
Author(s) -
Ernström Ulf,
Sandberg Göran
Publication year - 1971
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.1600-0609.1971.tb00888.x
Subject(s) - spleen , lymph , bone marrow , red pulp , erythropoiesis , haematopoiesis , biology , pathology , immunology , chemistry , stem cell , medicine , microbiology and biotechnology , anemia
The thymic and splenic release of Foà‐Kurloff cells into the blood was studied in estradiol‐treated male guinea pigs by comparison between the cellular content in afferent and efferent blood. The amount and distribution of such cells in thymus, spleen, lymph nodes, and bone marrow was investigated. The treatment with estradiol caused involution of the thymus and splenomegaly. An abundance of Foà‐Kurloff cells was found in the red splenic pulp and a considerable release of such cells from the spleen into the blood was demonstrated. At the same time the output of lymphocytes from the spleen was reduced, suggesting that the Foà‐Kurloff cells are transformed lymphocytes. The spleen contained an increased amount of erythroblasts, indicating a stimulation of splenic erythropoiesis by estradiol. In the bone marrow and the thymus the number of Foà‐Kurloff cells was much smaller than in the spleen and no emigration of such cells from the thymus into the blood was demonstrated. A very small amount of Foà‐Kurloff cells was found in the lymph nodes and very few occurred in the thoracic duct lymph. Thus, the Foà‐Kurloff cells of the blood do not originate in the lymph nodes and do not recirculate between blood and lymph. It is concluded that the spleen is the major producer of Foà‐Kurloff cells and that they are released from the spleen into the blood.