AGE-RELATED CHANGES IN THE ELASTIC FIBER NETWORK OF THE HUMAN SPLENIC CAPSULE

C.J Rodrigues, J.C.L Sacchetti, A.J Rodrigues Jr.

Abstract


The structural arrangement of elastic fibers in the splenic capsule from 16 human cadaversranging in age from 1 month to 76 years was studied by histologic sections stained with selectivemethods for elastin. In infants the elastic fibers of the splenic capsule were homogeneouslyintermingled with collagen fibers, an arrangement that stabilizes the capsule during spleengrowth and enlargement. With aging, collagen fibers predominate in the outer capsular surfaceover elastic fibers with the latter more evident in the deep lamina of the splenic capsule. In elderlyindividuals, the elastic fibers shorten, fragment, and thicken. The progressive decrease in theamount of elastic fibers in the splenic capsule with aging may restrict splenic distention andcontribute to involution of the spleen as one grows older

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