[Cytological structure of splenic white pulp in persons of different age]

Spleens (27) obtained from human corpses (from 1 year up to 85 years) have been investigated. By means of morphometrical grid amount of cells in the periarterial lymphoid muffs (PLM) and in marginal zones (MZ) of the spleen have been counted. In both structures of the white pulp small lymphocytes make the greatest number. Middle lymphocytes in comparison to the small ones are 1.5-4 times less in most of the age groups investigated. Amount of plasma cells is small. The part of reticular cells is 21-46% in MZ and 20-36% in PLM from the total amount of cells. In PLM immediately around the artery tightly packed to each other small lymphocytes are situated. Among small lymphocytes reticular cells are situated. A similar arrangement of cells is kept along the whole thickness of PLM. In MZ distance between cells of the lymphoid line is a little greater than in PLM. To singularly situating reticular cells small and middle lymphocytes are immediate neighbours. Plasma cells, as a rule, occur seldom; either middle lymphocytes, or reticular cells adjoin them. Sometimes, in PLM and MZ macrophages occur; they are situated in the areas free from other cells.