Morphological study of the dove spleen.

The spleen and vascular resin cast from doves were observed by a light and a scanning electron microscope for the purpose of studying the histological structure and the mode of the splenic blood microcirculation. The trabeculae of the dove spleen were poorly developed and the white and red pulps could not be distinguished from each other as is also the case of the chicken spleen. The luminal surface of the sinus was covered by continuous endothelial cells that had nuclear protrusion into the lumen. The blood cells passed to the sinus via the small gap of the luminal surface of the sinus. Irregular resin masses that connected the terminal portion of the artery with the venous sinus were observed. The direct connection between the arterial terminalis and venous sinus could not be recognized. When the resin was injected retrograde to blood flow from the vein, the sinus ended blindly.