Original Contribution ULTRASONOGRAPHIC QUALITATIVE CHARACTERS OF RABBIT SPLEEN (ORYCTOLAGUS CUNICULUS)

AIM: Finding some qualitative ultrasonographic features of normal rabbit spleen, in order to use the obtained results for imaging anatomical and diagnostic study of human and animal spleen lesions. MATERIALS: We investigated 9 sexually mature, healthy white New Zealand rabbit, aged 8 months, weighed from 2.8 kg to 3.2 kg. The animals were anesthetized. METHODS: The study was performed with Diagnostic Ultrasound System: model DC-6V Shenzhen Mindray Bio-Medical, Electrnics CO. Ltd (CHINA). We used 6.5 MHz microconvex and 5 MHz linear probes. The animals were positioned in supine recumbency. The approach was left percutaneous transabdominal hypochondrial left. The spleen of four animals was extirpated, following euthanasia. The obtained preparations were investigated in liquid isotonic medium. RESULTS: In the sagittal ultrasonographic study, the spleen was with elongated oval shape. In the transversal one the organ’s shape was triangular. The capsule was visualized as hyperechoic and heterogeneous striped finding. Parenchyma was hypoechoic, compared to the capsular structure. The blood vessels were visualized as oval anechoic findings. The investigation of extirpated spleen post mortem showed, that in sagittal aspect parenchyma is with homogeneous echogenicity. The capsule was relatively more hyperechoic and comaparatively more homogeneous structure than parenchyma. CONCLUSIONS: The qualitative ultrasonographic data for the rabbit spleen could be used as biological model in the imaging anatomical and diagnostic studies of some human and animal spleen lesions.