Abstract
ABSTRACTPurposeThe spleen is relevant in blood purification, hematopoiesis, metabolism, and immune response to antigens, in addition to the storage and control on the release of metals and amino acids. Its functions concerning reproduction characteristics are still unknown. The objective was to study the influence of splenectomies on reproduction.MethodsThis study analyzed 25 mice couples, distributed into five groups: group 1 – control, no surgery: group 2 – control, submitted to laparotomy and laparorrhaphy only; group 3 – splenectomy in male mice; group 4 – splenectomy in female mice; group 5 – splenectomy in male and female mice. The animals were studied as regards the number of gestations and offspring generated in each gestation.ResultsA decrease in both the number of gestations and the number of offspring was verified in the male mice that had received a splenectomy when coupled with normal female mice. It is important to emphasize lower reproduction level when paired asplenic males with normal females, otherwise, the couples in which both mice had been splenectomized did not present change in the reproduction pattern.ConclusionsA reduction in the number of pregnancies and litters occurs in mice couples when the male mice were previously splenectomized.
Highlights
The spleen performs important functions of defense, such as the removal of antigens from the blood flow, the storage of macrophages, as well as the production of lymphocytes, monocytes, and opsonins
Shulz and Czermak[8] observed a decrease in the fertility of splenectomized animals. These facts raised the hypothesis of splenectomy interfering in sexual activities caused by psychogenic or, more probably, metabolic factors related to the asplenic status
This work belongs to a line of research and was approved by the Ethical Committee in Experimental Research from the Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), under the protocol number 095/11 and strictly followed the criteria set forth in Resolution 879/08 from the Federal Board of Veterinarian Medicine and by Brazilian Federal Law 11.794, which regulates the use of laboratory animals and followed the Animal Research Reporting of in Vivo Experimental (ARRIVE) guideline
Summary
The spleen performs important functions of defense, such as the removal of antigens from the blood flow, the storage of macrophages, as well as the production of lymphocytes, monocytes, and opsonins. Organic defense, with deficiency in the removal of bacteria, fungi, viruses, and foreign bodies from the blood flow, increasing the susceptibility of the splenectomized mice to infection were described[1,2,3,4,5,6,7]. Shulz and Czermak[8] observed a decrease in the fertility of splenectomized animals. These facts raised the hypothesis of splenectomy interfering in sexual activities caused by psychogenic or, more probably, metabolic factors related to the asplenic status
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