Regeneration of splenic autotransplants in suckling and adult rats
K. F. Kovacs, V. J. Caride and R. J. Touloukian
Homogenates of splenic tissue were autotransplanted within the peritoneal
cavity of suckling and adult Sprague-Dawley rats after total splenectomy.
All suckling animals had multiple regenerated splenic nodules when killed
four months later, but in only 55% was splenic tissue visible by technetium
Tc 99m sulfur colloid scan. Splenic tissue was recovered in one of ten
adult animals, but the nodule was not visible by scan. The results of this
study imply that revascularization of autotransplants might be more
successful in a growing than in a mature host. Nuclear scans, although
useful, do not always visualize small regenerated splenic autotransplants.