Role of the spleen in hepatic disorders--experimental study from the viewpoint of antigen antibody reaction.

Experimental studies, using albino rabbits, showed that following the sensitization with histamine and homologous liver antigen conspicuous liver injury, closely resembling chronic active hepatitis, which progressed into liver cirrhosis with pseudolobulus formation, could be induced. The splenic weight, obtained after the administration of several hepato-toxic substances, had intimate relation with serum gammaglobulin levels. Furthermore, in a group in which splenectomy was performed after the development of hypergammaglobulinemia, serum gammaglobulin resulted in a rebound increase in comparison with extremely low level of serum gammaglobulin in a group in which splenectomized prior to sensitization. These results may suggest that (1) autoallergic mechanism should never be ignored. (2) splenomegaly in chronic liver diseases should not be considered from hemodynamic disturbance alone, but one of the important reacting sites where many factors including antigen antibody reaction are involved.