Ultrastructural Changes of Spleen Induced by Cyclophosphamide

Keimyung Medical Journal 1984;3(2):161-168.

Cyclophosphamide 투여로 인한 비장의 미세형태학적 변화

김정식; 서수지; 곽정식

Abstract

The author studied the effects of cyclophosphamide, a potent inhibitor of nucleoprotein synthesis, to investigate the morphologic evidence of destructive actions to the lymphoid cells on the spleen. Sprague-Dawley rats were received 4mg of cyclophosphamide per kg of body weight daily for 1 to 6 weeks intraperitoneally and examined light and electron microscopically. Light microscopically, white pulp became small and decreased in number with decreased number of lymphocytes from first week, which was more prominent in second week, but they were remained unchanged after that time. Red pulp showed congestion and increase of macrophages from first week: necrosis, hemorrhage and accumulation of hemosiderin at second week; dilatation of sinusoids, severe cogestion and proliferation of fibroblasts in 4th to 6th weeks. Electron microscopically, swelling of mitochondria of various cells, with increases of lysosomal structures and necrosis of lymphocytes on the white pulp from the first week. Collagen fibers were increased in second week with increased phagosomes on the macrophages. At 6th week, collagen fibers were markedly increased with decreased numbers of cellularity. The results suggest that the early changes of the white pulp are necrosis of lymphocytes, while the red pulp shows necrosis of parenchymal cells, dilatation of the sinusoids with proliferation of the collagen fibers, which results in atrophy of the spleen with functional impairments.