The effect of splenectomy on Escherichia coli sepsis and its treatment with semisoluble aminated glucan.

Rats were subjected to sham laparotomy or splenectomy and were challenged with either 0.2 X 10(9) Escherichia coli intravenously or 1 X 10(9) E. coli intraperitoneally. By means of quantitative blood culturing asplenic animals were shown to have a significantly impaired ability to clear the bacteria in both forms of challenge. Treatment with intraperitoneally injected semisoluble aminated glucan (SAG), known to have strong macrophage-stimulatory properties, compensated completely for the asplenic state. The substance protected against postsplenectomy sepsis both when given before and when given after removal of the spleen. This protective effect of SAG seemed to last at least 3 weeks.