Histochemical and ultrastructural data in the spleen of the copper-intoxicated rat.

By histochemical methods and electron microscopy, the spleen of copper-loaded rat was investigated. Oxidoreducing enzymes (diaphorase, succinate dehydrogenase, lactate dehydrogenase, prolineoxidase, hydroxyproline epimerase) and phosphatases (acid, ATP-ases) were tested. In general, in the intoxicated rat, the oxidases and dehydrogenases were depressed in the splenic cells, except macrophages and endothelial cells. Prolineoxidase and hydroxyproline epimerase activities increased in reticular cells and phosphatases displayed a strong activity in all the splenic structures. Ultrastructural modifications appeared in connective fibers and some connective cells.