SPLENIC REIMPLANTATION DOES NOT AFFECT OUTCOME IN CHRONIC CANINE MODEL

The effects of septic insult were compared in a canine model of spleni c reimplantation. Sequential changes in hematologic, hepatic, and immu nologic function were monitored biweekly in 18 dogs during 10 months a fter splenectomy, splenectomy with reimplantation, or sham operation. There was no significant difference in these measures between the two groups. At the end of the 10-month period, spleen scans with technetiu m (Tc-99) labeled, heat-damaged RBCs were obtained on the reimplanted dogs. Tc-99 scanning revealed no active splenic implants at 10 months. All dogs were then infected with intravenous Type III pneumococcus fo r 9 consecutive days. There were no measurable hematologic, hepatic, o r immunologic differences between groups before or after the septic in sult. These animals were then sacrificed for histologic analysis of th e splenic reimplants. Reimplant histology showed active germinal cente rs, but the surrounding pulp was fibrotic and lymphocyte-depleted. Spl enic reimplantation in this canine model yields no apparent benefit.