[Effect of splenectomy on the growth of W256 carcinosarcoma and T cell subsets of peripheral blood in rat].

Rats were randomized into splenectomised and sham-splenectomised groups (n = 15 in each). W256 carcinosarcoma cells were implanted in the subcutis of each animal 10 days after splenic operation. T cell subsets of peripheral blood were evaluated serially before and after the operation. The growth rate of implanted tumor and diameter of local tumor in the splenectomised were larger than those of the sham-splenectomised. Simultaneously T cell subsets of peripheral blood presented severe reduction of pan-T and T h/i cells and slight increase of T s/c cells in the splenectomised, all of which still remained at the lower level after tumor inoculation, as compared with the non-tumor and tumor growth in sham-splenectomised (P less than 0.01). From these data, it is evident that splenectomy results in the reduction of T h/i cells and a relative increase of T s/c cells, which shows a close correlation with the rapid growth of the tumor following splenectomy.