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Early Splenectomy and Survival of Inbred Mice

Abstract

THE spleen is known to function in lymphopoiesis1–3, phagocytosis4,5, and immunogenesis6–8, but these functions are not essential to normal survival or health when the spleen is removed during adult life9–11. The spleen appeared in the primitive fishes and has persisted in much the same morphological state in all vertebrates which have evolved since12–14. Such phylogenetic constancy implies survival advantage, but the basis of this advantage remains enigmatic.

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KALPAKTSOGLOU, P., YUNIS, E. & GOOD, R. Early Splenectomy and Survival of Inbred Mice. Nature 215, 633–634 (1967). https://doi.org/10.1038/215633a0

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