Interleukin-2, T-cell growth factor, is a glycoprotein produced by antigen or mitogen induced activated T-lymphocyte. Interleukin-2 mediates antitumor lytic effect by in-creasing the generation of lymphokine activated killer cells. Thus it could mediate the regression of metastases of various tumors. Although, interleukin72 shows therapeutic effects on various sarcoma and carcinoma, it induces many toxicity; fever, chill, chillness hepatic dysfunction, weight gain, pulmonary edema, ascites, and eosinophilia. Therefore the author undertook the present study to pursue the effect of interleukin-2 on the spleen.
Albino mice, DDY strain, weighing 20gm were used as experimental animals. The experimental animals were killed at 3, 6, 12, 24 and 48 hours after administration of 2,000,000 unit/kg interleukin-2. The specimens obtained from the spleen were stained with Hematoxylin-eosin and Hematoxylin-eosin-Azure II for hitological study.
The results were as follows.
1. The sinuses of the red pulp in the spleen were expanded at the 3 hours after
interleukin-2 administration but they were recovered after 6 hours.
2. Small lymphocytes in the spleen were increased in number at the 3 hours after
interleukin-2 administration but they were decreased after 6 hours.
3. Medium and large lymphocytes in the mouse spleen were increased in number
at the 12, 24 and 48 hours after interleukin-2 treated mouse spleen.
4. Numerous plasmacytoid lymphocytes were observed in the mouse spleen after 24
and 48 hours after interleukin-2 administration.
Consequently, it is suggested that interleukin-2 would change the lymphocyte formation in the mouse spleen.
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