Distribution of peripheral blood cells in mice after splenectomy or autotransplantation

Our aim was to compare the distribution changes of peripheral leukocytes and erythrocytes in splenectomized and spleen‐autotransplanted BALB/c female mice (n = 96), 2 and 8 months after surgery. In total, there were eight groups of animals: splenectomy, autotransplantation, sham, and untreated controls at both time points. We used the spleen‐apron method of Furka et al. (Khirurgiia (Mosk) 1989;9:125–127), inserting five spleen chips into the greater omentum, for autotransplantation. Quantitative and qualitative blood cell counts and the phagocytic activity of cells (stimulated with zymosan) were determined. In splenectomized animals, the number of neutrophils significantly increased 8 months after surgery. The greatest phagocytic activity of neutrophils, however, was observed in autotransplanted animals of the same age. In splenectomized animals, erythrocyte volumes were significantly higher in the second postoperative month, but normalized by the eighth month. In conclusion, spleen autotransplantation has some beneficial effects, including clearing erythrocytes and preserving the phagocytic activity of neutrophils in peripheral blood. © 2006 Wiley‐Liss, Inc. Microsurgery 26: 43–49, 2006.