Age and changes in the splenic lymphoid tissue of germ-free rats during the postnatal period of ontogenesis]

In germfree rats the splenic lymphopoiesis is not demonstrated by the investigation to be suppressed, and lymphoid follicules undergo age changes. Up to 15 days, periarterial zone of T-lymphocytes, responsible for cell immunity, is determined, and by the 30th day, as in control animals, peripheral zone of B-lymphocytes, responsible for hormonal immunity, is distinctly observed. In 4-month-old germfree animals, a large amount of free iron crystals is detected in the spleen, while in the organ of control animals its amount is still small. In 10-month-old germfree rats, with the appearance of reactive centers, the zone of B-lymphocytes widens in lymphoid follicules and iron crystals integrate in the red pulp. Lymphopoiesis in the spleen of the germfree rats seems to be maintained by certain local conditions which are connected with increased haemolytic function of the organ. This produces a discharge of a large amount of the products of erythrocytosis which, like autoantigens, stimulate lymphopoiesis in the spleen even when microflora is absent in the organism, while lymphopoiesis in lymph nodes in germfree animals is sharply inhibited.