Influence of dextran on pneumococcal septicemia in splenic artery-ligated or splenectomized rats

Splenic artery ligation is one of several methods in splenic preservation. In this experimental work the susceptibility of splenectomized rats and rats treated with splenic artery ligation to pneumococcal infection and the influence of the plasma expander dextran in the same groups were studied. The mortality among splenectomized rats was 100% vs nil after sham operation. Animals treated with splenic artery ligation and saline had a 23% mortality in pneumococcal septicemia, significantly different (P less than 0.05) from the 59% mortality after splenic artery ligation and dextran. A significant increase (P less than 0.05) in number of abscesses was also seen among rats given dextran.