Histopathological studies on dog lymphoid structures during malnutrition and total parenteral nutrition.

Lymphoid tissues of six malnourished dogs were histologically evaluated and compared to the same lymphoid structures of dogs nutritionally repleted by means of total parenteral nutrition (TPN). The results show that thymus, spleen, lymph nodes and Peyer's patches are markedly atrophic and severely cell depleted in malnourished dogs, and provide evidence that subsequent TPN therapy stimulates and supports lymphoid cell prolipheration, leading to cell repopulation of previously depleted lymphoid structures.