The Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus): its histological and haematological response to methylcellulose.

Abstract

After intraperitoneal injections of 2.5% aqueous methylcellulose twice a week for 15 weeks gerbils showed a mild haemolytic anaemia, heterophilia, lymphopenia and monocytosis. Many monocytes and a few lymphocytes had a foamy vacuolated cytoplasm. There was a sequestration of methylcellulose in the phagocytic cells of the spleen, liver, bone marrow and in other scattered foci, and consistent storage in the glomerular endothelium. Myeloid metaplasia was noted in the spleen, and splenic weights were markedly increased (P Less than 0.05); hepatomegaly was also present. The survival at the end of 15 weeks was 60%. From this experiment, the gerbil is considered to be a potential model for a stimulated monocyte-macrophage system.