[The spleen of the cervidae (Gray, 1821). Quantitative-morphological studies on the spleens of stags (Cervus elaphus, L.1785) and of deers (Capreolus capreolus, L. 1758)].

The macroscopical and microscopical structure of 17 spleens of Cervus elaphus and 9 spleens of Capreolus capreolus is described. The spleens of both species exhibit structural characteristics which resemble those of the reticular "non-sinusoidal" type. These include: spleen arterial ramifications of the "magistral type" (SCHABADASCH), bilayered capsule, well developed smooth muscle cells containing trabecular networks, numerous muscle cells in the red pulp, poorlý developed white pulp, splenic vein of large diameter, lack of veins associated with trabeculae, a thick tunica media in trabecular arteries and in arterial vessels of the hilus region, poorly developed SCHWEIGGER-SEIDEL sheaths, and splenic nerve trunks of considerable diameter. These structural features are comparable to those in other ruminant species having storage type spleens. However, there are differences in certain quantitative parameters between the spleen of Cervus elaphus and that of Capreolus capreolus, i.e., spleen weight versus body weight, relative volume of trabecular networks and capsular tissue, and relative amount of smooth muscle cells in trabecular tissue. On the basis of these quantitative parameters the spleen of Cervus elaphus and that of Capreolus capreolus can be classified into the system of spleen types as described by v. Herrath(1953) and should thus be ordered between the extreme storage type spleen and the extreme metabolic type spleen. The quantitative data observed in the spleen of Cervus elaphus are similar to those seen in the horse, whereas the data of the spleen of Capreolus capreolus can be compared to that of the sheep and the cow.