Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 1998, 185 (1)

Three-Dimensional Submucosal Structure of Mucosal and Lymphatics in Rat Small Intestine

KOUHEI FUKUSHIMA, IWAO SASAKI, TAKAYUKI MASUDA,1 HIROSHI NAGURA,1 HIROO NAITO, YUJI FUNAYAMA and SEIKI MATSUNO

The First Department of Surgery and 1Department of Pathology, Tohoku University School of Medicine, Sendai 980-8574

  • The organization of the lymphatic system in the rat ileum was investigated by the three-dimensional reconstruction using serial sections after dilatation of lymphatics. This method has an advantage to exclude possible artifacts in the conventional corrosion cast method. The villus possessed several lacteals and connected to each other by sinus. Two or three perpendicularly oriented lymphatics descended and led intc the submucosal lymphatic network. In mucosa and submucosa, no valvular structure was detected. This study confirmed the voluminous lacteals and fine network structure of lymphatics in submucosa without valves, suggesting great potential to keep lymph and to drain soluble factors and cellular components.
    Key words--- lymphatic vessel; three dimensional reconstruction; small intestine
    © 1998 Tohoku University Medical Press

    Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 1998, 185, 9-14
    Address for reprints: Kouhei Fukushima, M.D., Ph.D., The First Department of Surgery, Tohoku University School of Medicine, 1-1 Seiryomachi, Aoba-ku, Sendai 980-8574, Japan.

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