Effects of splenectomy on production of poly I:C induced serum interferon in rabbits.

Splenectomy in rabbits causes a temporary reduction in interferon responding capacity of Poly I:C, followed by a period of hyperreactivity. At the same time a fraction of interferon with slightly different physiocochemical properties emerges. This could indicate that the spleen plays a relatively important role in the interferon response to Poly I:C. Splenectomy could be followed by the development of a compensatory cell population responsible for the production of interferon with slightly different molecular weight, isoelectric point and stability in urea.