Dynamics of morphofunctional changes in immune organs of BALB/c mice with experimental hepatitis

The time course of morphofunctional changes in the liver, thymus, and spleen was observed in BALB/c mice with Con A-induced experimental hepatitis. The progress of alterative changes in the liver was paralleled by intensification of accidental involution of the thymus. On day 1 of hepatitis development high proliferative and cytostatic activity of splenocytes was paralleled by hemorrhagic necroses and depletion of the peri-arteriolar lymphoid sheaths in the spleen (T-zones), presumably due to migration of activated lymphocytes to the liver and barrier tissues. Later normalization of lymphocyte proliferative activity was paralleled by recovery and hyperplasia of the splenic T-cell zones.