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Morphogenesis of rat spleen was studied by light and electron microscope from the fetal stage till the newborn or adult stages. The results indicate as follows: at the 14th day of gestation rat spleen, as an early form, consists of intercellular spaces and mesenchymal cells. And at this stage the spleen is in a premature state, then it appears its adult condition in structures after the 7th postnatal day. Erythropoiesis is shown to be an active process in rat spleen beginning about the 18th day of gestation, and once established the process continues at least till the 7th postnatal day. At the 20th day of gestation, there are splenic nodules, trabeculae, venous sinus, and granular leucocytes such as neutrophils and basophils in rat spleen. Lymphocytes appeared to be well differentiated at the 7th postnatal day and were present till the adult stage. While degenerating erythrocytes are phagocytosed by macrophages. In conclusion, rat spleen started to be appeared from the 14th day of gestation and erythropoiesis in rat spleen was carried out for about 10 days between prenatal and postnatal stage. Erythrophagocytosis was accomplished by macrophages and it is suggested that the proper functions of rat spleen set off from the 7 th postnatal day when its structures are similar to the adult’s.
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