Germinal centers in the spleens of neonates and stillbirths

Sections of spleens from 235 stillbirths and 227 babies who died between the ages of 1 and 35 days were examined. None of the stillbirths showed any germinal centres, neither did the spleens of any of the babies who died between the ages of 1 and 14 days. From the age of 15 days onwards, the germinal centres started to appear in varying numbers. The appearance of germinal centres in the spleen is further delayed in infants born before 37 wk gestation. Germinal centres in the spleen in neonates do not appear to be related to the presence of inflammatory changes elsewhere in the infant.