ObjectiveTo investigate the possible mechanism affecting liver cirrhosis by splenectomy. MethodsBy subcutaneous administration of 20% carbon tetrachloride(CCl4), liver cirrhosis models were established in splenectomy and nonsplenectomy groups. After HE staining, special staining and immunohistochemical staining, mast cell, Kupffer’s cell and Ito cell were counted under optical microscope. Liver pathological sections and the dynamic changes of these cells in mice were studied respectively in comparison with the normal group.ResultsThe incidence of liver cirrhosis in nonsplenectomy group was significantly higher than that in splenectomy group after the 16th injection of CCl4 (P＜0.05). The count of mast cell was much higher than that in splenectomy group after the 4th and the 8th injection (P＜0.05). Kupffer’s cell and Ito cell significantly increased after the 12th and the 16th injection in nonsplenectomy group compared with splenectomy group (P＜0.05). ConclusionSplenectomy may decline the incidence of hepatic cirrhosis caused by multifactors. In the early stage, splenectomy influences the migration, maturation and accumulation of mast cell. In the middle and late stage, it influences the proliferation of Kupper’s cell and cytokine secretion, thus the Ito cells are activated and proliferation is inhibited, in which extracellular matrix decreases in amount and the degree of hepatic fibrosis is reduced.
