Abstract
Schafer and Moore, 1 using dogs as experimental animals and measuring splenic volume by use of the plethysmograph, obtained in only 2 isolated cases dilatation of the spleen as a result of stimulation; the first by slow and weak stimulation of the splanchnic nerve, the second by stimulation of the splenic nerve of an excised, perfused spleen 3 hours after removal from the body. Cleland and Tait, 2 also using dogs and measuring the length of the exteriorized spleen, obtained dilatation of the spleen only as a result of constriction of the splenic vein when they stimulated the vein directly, or the phrenic nerve by which this vein is innervated.
In the majority of our experiments we used decapitate cats, but in several cases we employed amytalized dogs and cats. Since plethysmographic methods for registering volume of the spleen, particularly increases in volume, were found to be unsatisfactory, changes in the area of the exteriorized spleen, registered by the method of Cook and Rose, 3 were taken as a measure of volume changes.
We found that, independent of blood-pressure changes, stimulation of the splanchnics on either side, or of branches of the splenic nerve craniad or caudad to the splenic artery, by means of a tetanizing current of weak intensity, produced dilation of the spleen in both the cat and dog, an increase of about 12% of its resting value. Slow break shocks of different intensities all proved to be ineffective. Any form of stimulation of the abdominal vagus was without effect, nor were we able to obtain dilatation of the spleen by stimulation of the splenic vein with a weak tetanizing current. These experiments indicate the presence of dilator fibers for the spleen running in the splanchnic nerves.
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