Splenic Function in Experimental Malaria *

Abstract

Summary Normal and splenectomized rhesus monkeys were transfused with 51chromium-labeled erythrocytes from monkeys severely infected with Plasmodium knowlesi. Radiochromium disappeared from the blood of both normal and splenectomized recipient animals at a rapid and similar rate. Parasites disappeared from the blood of normal but not splenectomized monkeys faster than did the radiochromium. This suggested that the spleen removed malaria parasites from transfused cells without destroying the erythrocytes that contained them.