OBJECTIVE: To study the functional and morphological features of splenic autoimplants in rats subjected, or not, to postoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy. METHODS: One hundred and five male Wistar rats, weighing 251.6 g ± 29.5 g, were studied ot early (11th day) and late (70th day ) postoperative periods. For each period the animals were distributed in the following groups: A (n=40), splenic manipulation; B (n=65),splenic autoimplants, not treated (nt) (A11nt- n=10, B11nt- n=21, A70nt- n= 10, B70nt-n= 18) and treated with hyperbaric oxygen (t) ( A11t- n= 10, B11t- n=15, A70t - n=10, B70t- n=11). Blood was collected for measurement of lipids and immunoglobulins , platelet and Howell-Jolly body count before and after surgery. The spleen and autoimplants were removed for histologic analyses. RESULTS: There was an increase of total cholesterol (p=0.00068), LDL-cholesterol (p=0.002), VLDL-cholesterol and triglycerides (p=0.0033) in B11nt group. There was an increase of total cholesterol (p= 0.0007) and LDL-cholesterol (p=0.0000) in B70nt group, and no alterations were observed in the other groups. IgM decreased in B groups (p=0.0000) and no changes were observed in the splenic manipulation group. Number of Howell-Jolly bodies were lesser in Bt groups than in Bnt groups( p=0.03). Platelets were increased in B11t and B11nt groups (p=0.0000) and remained unchanged in the other groups. Autoimplants microscopic viability was better in Bt groups than in Bnt. CONCLUSION: The splenic autoimplants of rats treated with hyperbaric oxygen therapy showed a better functionality and viability than those subjected to other procedures.
Spleen; Spleen; Splenectomy; Splenectomy; Hyperbaric oxygenation
