Hematologic Effects of Splenic Implants

1. Splenectomy in the rat results in a marked elevation in the number ofcirculating leukocytes and platelets.

2. Transient suppression of the leukocytosis may result from the presenceof a 10 per cent splenic implant, either free in the peritoneal cavity or enclosed in a Millipore diffusion chamber.

3. Marked and persistent suppression of postsplenectomy thrombocytosisresults from the presence of a 10 per cent splenic implant, whether freeor enclosed in a 0.45 µ Millipore diffusion chamber.

4. The results provide indirect evidence of a humoral substance producedby rat spleen which influences platelet levels; presumably this substanceacts by suppressing thrombopoiesis.

Submitted on April 28, 1966 Accepted on August 26, 1966