Experimental study of the effects of splenectomy and partial splenectomy on bacterial translocation.
BACKGROUND
The aim of this study is to evaluate the effect of splenectomy and partial splenectomy in a burn-induced bacterial translocation model and to study Kupffer cell (KC) morphology and number.


METHODS
Mice were divided into sham-burn and burn groups. Each group was also subdivided to sham-splenectomy, partial-splenectomy, and splenectomy subgroups. At day 0, operations were performed. At the postoperative 10th day, a sham burn or burn injury was made in all animals. Twenty-four hours later, cultures for bacterial translocation were obtained and livers were evaluated for the quantity and morphology of KCs.


RESULTS
Burned-splenectomized animals had significantly decreased bacterial translocation when compared with sham-splenectomized animals (p = 0.031). Interestingly, in both the sham-burned and burned groups, splenectomy subgroups had significantly higher numbers of KCs compared with partial-splenectomy and sham-splenectomy subgroups (p<0.00000). Burn injury caused a significant decrease of KC numbers in all subgroups compared with their correspondent sham-burned subgroups (p<0.05).


CONCLUSIONS
Results revealed that splenectomy decreases bacterial translocation and also increases the number of KCs.
Baykal
A
A
Department of General Surgery, Hacettepe University School of Medicine. baykal@ ceng.metu.edu.tr
Aydin
C
C
Hasçelik
G
G
Ayhan
A
A
Korkmaz
A
A
Sayek
I
I
D000818:Animals; D018988:Bacterial Translocation; D002056:Burns / Q000382:microbiology*; D002452:Cell Count; D007728:Kupffer Cells / Q000473:pathology*; D008198:Lymph Nodes / Q000382:microbiology; D008297:Male; D008643:Mesentery; D051379:Mice; D013156:Splenectomy / Q000379:methods*