Effects of purified iron-saturated human lactoferrin on spleen morphology in mice infected with Friend virus complex.

The present report describes effects of lactoferrin treatment on the development of erythroleukemia in the spleen of mice infected with Friend virus complex (FVC). Lactoferrin (LF) treatment was carried out in mice for up to 2 weeks at a total dose of 200 micrograms per mouse. The treatment was started at Days 7 and 14 prior to viral infection and Days 0, 1, 3, 7, and 11 after viral infection. Spleens were analyzed 14 days after viral infection. In mice whose treatment was initiated at Days 0 and 1, few leukemic cells were present in the spleen. Most of them appeared in clumps in the red pulp. No leukemic cells were seen in the white pulp. The white pulp was greatly enlarged. In mice whose treatment was initiated at Day 3, leukemic cells began to spread out in the red pulp and encroached upon the white pulp. The white pulp was enlarged and clearly visible. In mice whose treatment was initiated at Days 7 and 11, many leukemic cells were present in the red pulp. The white pulp was infiltrated by leukemic cells and became less discernible. The morphologic features of the spleen in mice whose treatment was initiated at Day 7 or 14 prior to viral infection were similar to those of untreated groups. Leukemic cells not only filled most of the cordal space in the red pulp but also invaded the white pulp. Many leukemic cells were seen in venous sinuses. When infected mice responded to LF treatment, the general architecture of the red pulp remained intact and the white pulp was enlarged but not infiltrated by leukemic cells.