REGULATION OF SPLEEN GROWTH AND SEQUESTERING FUNCTION*

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Abstract
The growth and function of spleens, livers and spleen autotransplants were regulated in proportion to the "work" required of them. Spleen autotransplants, in animals lacking other spleen tissue grew larger and sequestered Cr51-labeled altered red cells more avidly than transplants in animals possessing spleens. A hemolytic process induced further hyperplasia unless spleen tissue was isolated from non-visible red cells by transplantation within diffusion chambers. Induction of splenic hyperplasia inhibited reticuloendothelial (R.E.) function in the liver. Conversely, splenectomy led to compensatory increase in hepatic and marrow sequestering function. Splenic hyperplasia induced by chronic hemolysis depressed levels of all blood elements, probably through increased sequestration. It is proposed that (1) particulate matter directly and locally stimulates R.E. cellular division and, (2) R.E. organ size is regulated by the total particulate work load.