Splenic function following experimental dearterialization injury in the suckling rat.
An experimental splenic dearterilization injury was created in 1-wk-old rats to study the effect of vascular trauma on splenic function. Splenic weight significantly decreased 1 wk following injury but returned to control values within a month. Total splenic nuclear activity diminished initially but increased to above control values 1 mo after injury, and finally returned to normal at 2 mo. Survival rate after an intraperitoneal challenge with pneumococcus in groups 1 wk following total splenectomy and partial dearterlization was not significantly different than controls. This study confirmed the clinical impression that vascular injury to the spleen causes only a transient impariment of splenic size and function and provides further incentive to perform splenorrhaphy following splenic trauma.
D000818:Animals; D001424:Bacterial Infections / Q000453:epidemiology; D009336:Necrosis; D009929:Organ Size; D011008:Pneumococcal Infections / Q000209:etiology; D011183:Postoperative Complications / Q000453:epidemiology; D011877:Radionuclide Imaging; D051381:Rats; D013154:Spleen / Q000098:blood supply / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000293:injuries* / Q000473:pathology / Q000502:physiology*; D013156:Splenectomy; D013157:Splenic Artery / Q000601:surgery; D013161:Splenic Rupture / Q000601:surgery