The effect of splenectomy on reticuloendothelial system（RES） function was investigated by measurement of 99mTc-phytate in the presence or absence of sepsis in rats

and plasma fibronectin（PFn） and hyaluronic acid（HA） concentrations were measured. The results were as follows: following splenectolny

particularly in the presence of sepsis

the intravascular clearance（TI/2） delayed and HA increased

phagocytic index（K） and hepatic uptake and PFn decreased. These results suggest that splenectomy may not only have deleterious effects in terms of the host defencesystem

but may also cause RES depression due to the postsplenectomy infection.