Objective: To study the functional and morphological features of the lower pole of the spleen in rats submitted, or not, to postoperative hyperbaric oxygen therapy.
Methods: Seventy-nine Wistar rats, weighing 248.7 +/- 27 g, divided into two groups [group A - simulation (n=40), group B - lower pole (n=39)] underwent surgery and were subdivided into two groups: 11 and 70 postoperative days.