[The autologous splenic reimplant in the rat]

In order to evaluate the clinical utility of autologous splenic transplantation in the omental pouch, a pneumococcal challenge was performed in 3 groups of rats, after demonstration of vitality of the intraperitoneal inoculum: Group A: splenectomized rats; Group B: reimplanted rats; Group C: sham operation. No statistically significant difference was found between the first two groups regarding resistance against infection (p less than 0.982), while normal rats proved more resistant (p less than 0.031). Between group A and B significant differences (p less than 0.001) exists only for a more precocious mortality in the first group. The poor clinical utility of the technique is demonstrated.