Evaluation of the utility of popliteal lymph node examination in a cyclophosphamide model of immunotoxicity in the rat

Figures & data

Figure 1. Correlation of left vs right popliteal lymph node (PLN) weights for all treated and control animals (n = 40). Lymph node weights are expressed as a percentage of brain weights. Coefficient of determination (r²) = 0.2774; p < 0.0005.

Table 1. Lymphoid organ weights in control animals.

	Spleen	Thymus	L + R PLN	Left PLN	Right PLN
Mean^a	39.2	33.6	1.40	0.77	0.63
SE	1.3	2.7	0.22	0.15	0.09
SD	4.0	8.4	0.71	0.49	0.30
CV	10.2	24.9	50.7	63.6	47.4
Range	34.2–46.0	16.6–43.4	0.67–2.57	0.21–1.68	0.31–1.18
Ratio highest:lowest	1.35	2.62	3.48	7.83	3.83

^aWeights are expressed as a percentage of brain weight.

PLN, Popliteal lymph node; SE, Standard error; SD, Standard deviation; CV, Coefficient of variation.

Table 2. Effects of cyclophosphamide on lymphoid organs weights.

	Spleen	Thymus	L + R PLN	Left PLN	Right PLN
2 mg/kg	91.0 ± 11.6	96.0 ± 10.4	87.0 ± 23.3	86.0 ± 30.8	88.0 ± 25.7
7 mg/kg	58.0 ± 8.1*	59.0 ± 19.2*	60.0 ± 14.3	48.0 ± 22.8	75.0 ± 24.5
12 mg/kg	44.0 ± 7.0*	34.0 ± 12.7*	51.0 ± 10.2*	41.0 ± 14.9*	62.0 ± 18.8

Weights are relative to brain weights and expressed as a percentage of control group means ± SD.

* Statistically significant difference from control group.

Table 3. Incidence of cyclophosphamide-induced microscopic tissue changes.

	Spleen	Thymus	Popliteal lymph nodes	Mesenteric lymph node	Bone marrow
2 mg/kg	0/10	0/10	0/10	0/10	0/10
7 mg/kg	10/10	5/10	10/10	10/10	6/10
12 mg/kg	10/10	10/10	10/10	10/10	10/10