[Enzyme histochemical, histometrical and ultrastructural studies of spleens in vinylchloride-disease (author's transl)].

By means of histometric, enzyme histochemical, and electron microscopic investigations it was demonstrated that the pathological changes in the spleen in vinylchloride-disease are primary. Fibroblastic cells are the only specific splenic cells involved. Fibre-associated reticulum cells of the red pulp and fibroblastic reticulum cells in white pulp are stimulated to produce excessive amounts of the extracellular elements of connective tissue, especially collagen fibrils. The newly formed connective tissue causes obliteration of extracellular blood channels in the red pulp and thus a reduction in the number of pulp-cord macrophages, and scarring of the periaterial lymphatic sheaths. The results of this fibrosing process are characteristic quantitative changes in the splenic histologic structures. These changes are different from those structural alterations occurring in spleens following extrasplenic hemodynamic changes, such as thrombosis of the splenic veins or cirrhosis of the liver.