Background: Experimental research into the viability and functionality of splenic tissue placed in the liver and the omentum.
Methods: There were 4 groups in this study. First group: sham laparotomy, 2nd group: splenectomy, 3rd group: splenectomy and splenic autotransplantation into the greater omentum and 4th group: splenectomy and splenic autotransplantation into the liver. Blood levels of haemoglobin, leukocytes, thrombocytes, immunoglobulin G (IgG), immunoglobulin M (IgM) and complement protein 3 (C3) were studied 1 day before and 6 weeks after the procedure. At the end of 6 weeks, scintigraphy was performed. Splenic tissue in the liver and the omentum were subjected to macroscopic and histopathologically.
Results: Pre- and postoperatively, no significant differences were found in terms of haematological and immunological measurements of groups I, III and IV. An increase in the numbers of thrombocytes and leukocytes and a decrease in the levels of IgG, IgM and C3 were observed in the postoperatively in group II.When the postoperative hematological and immunological values of the second group are compared to those of groups III and IV, the difference was significant in terms of levels of thrombocyte, leukocyte and IgM; insignificant in terms of levels of IgG and C3. In the microscopic and scintigraphic analyses the spleen tissue was found to be viable in all of the six rabbits in groups III and IV.
Conclusions: The liver is a suitable organ for splenic autotransplantation (Tab. 6, Fig. 2, Ref. 17).