Experimental elimination of the splenic function by an intravenous injection of ethyl palmitate emulsion in Wistar rats.

Attempts were made at the experimental elimination of the sequestration function of the spleen on Wistar rats using ethyl palmitate (EP). Following an i.v. injection of EP emulsion in an amount of 0.35 g and 0.10 g/100 g of body weight the clearance of 51Cr-labeled and heat-damaged red cells from the blood and their sequestration in the spleen and liver at 24-h, 3-, 10-, 20-, and 50-day intervals was examined. A high dose of EP caused, notably at 24h and also after 3- and 10-day intervals, a significant decrease of radioactivity in the spleen and considerably prolonged the clearance time of the red cells. The extent of changes were comparable to those of surgical splenectomy. At later intervals (20 and 50 days after EP injection) some animals showed partial regeneration of the sequestration ability of the spleen; in some other animals the splenic damage was permanent. Changes induced by small doses of EP were less pronounced and of transient character.