Table 1.

Effect of desferrioxamine on spleen weight and spleen index in HgCl₂-induced autoimmunity^A

HgCl2 treatment	HgCl2+ saline	HgCl2+ desf.	Saline + saline
Spleen weight (g, mean ± s.d.)
2 doses	0·916 ± 0·078 (n = 5)	0·634 ± 0·069 (n = 5)B	n.d.
3 doses	0·935 ± 0·296 (n = 12)	0·640 ± 0·133 (n = 10)C	0·563 + 0·045 (n = 6)D
Spleen weight/rat weight (mg/g, mean ± s.d.)
2 doses	2·738 ± 0·099	2·010 ± 0·200E	n.d.
3 doses	2·988 ± 0·479	2·030 ± 0·188F	1·667 ± 0·075G

^AStatistics represent two-tailed Mann–Whitney U-test.

^BP = 0·009 versus HgCl₂+ saline.

^CP < 0·0001 versus HgCl₂+ saline.

^DP = 0·0007 versus HgCl₂+ saline.

^EP = 0·009 versus HgCl₂+ saline.

^FP < 0·0001 versus HgCl₂+ saline.

^GP = 0·0001 versus HgCl₂+ saline.