Tetrazolium chloride was used to visualize the in vitro dehydrogenase activity of splenic tissues from cases with and without hypersplenism. In addition, quantitative measurements of such activity were made in the presence and absence of fluoride, malonate and azide. The data indicate that spleen slices from cases of hypersplenism differed from the controls and were characterized by (a) increased endogenous dehydrogenase activity of the lymphocytes, particularly around the follicles, (b) a decreased azide stimulation in those cases having an initial thrombocytopenia which responded to splenectomy, and (c) a decreased fluoride stimulation in those cases having an initial leukopenia which responded to splenectomy.

Routine histological studies confirmed other reports that a constant structural feature of the spleen in hypersplenism is a perifollicular lymphocytic rimming.

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© 1955 by American Society of Hematology, Inc.
1955
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