Mechanical events of in vivo rabbit and cat spleen

¹ Department of Biology, Clark University, Worcester, Massachusetts

Splenic contractions were recorded in 23 rabbits and 6 cats under urethan and pentobarbital anesthesia. Rabbit splenic contractions consist of two distinct phases, a higher-frequency contractile phase (CPI) occurring every 10–45 sec and a slower-frequency contractile phase (CPII) occurring every 5–20 min. Bilateral adrenalectomy eliminates CPII, and splenic nerve block eliminates CPI. Cat splenic contractions consist of only the higher-frequency CPI phase. Bilateral adrenalectomy or splenic nerve block in the cat causes only a reduction in the contractile frequency. Simultaneous bilateral adrenalectomy and splenic nerve block eliminates splenic contractions in both rabbits and cats.

Key Words: splenic physiology • contraction of smooth muscle • splenic contraction • rhythms of splenic muscle • smooth muscle rhythms • phases of splenic contraction • splenic filling • splenic emptying • nervous and hormonal control of splenic contraction • phases of splenic relaxation

Submitted on August 22, 1963