Morphological changes in the lymphoid organs induced by diphenylhydantoin sodium (DPH)

In rats injected with DPH the morphological changes induced in the thymus and lymph nodes were studied. In the thymus, features suggesting block of cellular differentiation were found, and in lymph nodes depletion of the paracortical zone and intense plasma cell hyperplasia could be observed. The correlation of these findings with the functional changes in the immunological response induced by the drug, and the possible implications of these changes in the induction of lymphoma are discussed.