Periphere Lymphgef��e des Menschen und ihre funktionelle Struktur

Observations on the prenatal development of human lymphatic vessels with focus on basic structural elements of lymph flow

BACKGROUND

The prenatal development of human lymphatic systems has not attracted enough attention by lymphatic researchers in the past. Yet clearly these critical, early events determine the fate and function of the human lymphatic system.

METHODS AND RESULTS

The main focus of these studies was to investigate the embryonic development of human lymphangions including lymphatic valves and muscle cells, to better understand the prenatal formation of basic structural elements of lymph flow. This review in most of its parts is a short summary of the findings. It provides important information necessary for understanding the development and functioning of the human lymphatic system.

CONCLUSIONS

The structural basis of the active lymph transport system--the lymphatic muscle cells and lymphatic valves--which is absolutely necessary for all functions of lymphatic system, is already formed during the first half of the prenatal development in humans. During the second half of this development maturation of this system is already underway. The enlargement of lymphatic muscle cells together with increases in their quantity leads to formation of the multi-layered lymphatic vessel wall, able to develop contractions strong enough to propel lymph downstream of the lymphatic channels against gravity in bipedal humans. The development of the competent valves in lymphatic vessels occurs at the same time creating the ground for effective net, unidirectional lymph flow. The data summarized here represents some of the first systematic studies of the prenatal development of lymphatic muscle cells and valves in humans.

Degranulation of endothelial specific granules of the toad aorta after treatment with compound 48/80

Incubation of isolated toad aortas in Ringer solution containing compound 48/80, a histamine liberator, resulted in marked degranulation of endothelial specific granules. Since incubation of these vessels in Ringer solution only did not show significant morphologic changes in these granules, these findings suggest that the degranulation was induced by histamine release from the granules, as in the case for mast cell degranulation, and that endothelial specific granules are a storage site of histamine in the toad aorta. The present morphologic data were supported by preliminary chromatography, which showed appreciable concentrations of histamine in the granule-containing pellets of subcellular fractions of homogenized toad aortas.

The morphology of canine lymphatic valves

The architecture of 60 valves from thoracic ducts and from renal hilar and mesenteric collecting lymph vessels of dogs were studied by scanning electron microscopy as well as by light and transmission electron microscopy. All of the valves seen in hilar and mesenteric lymph vessels and most of those studied in the thoracic duct were bicuspid. An occasional tricuspid and one monocuspid valve was seen in the thoracic duct. The semilunar cusps of the valves extended from the vessel wall, to which they were attached, towards the valve outlet where adjacent cusps fused. Coincident to the area of fusion was the formation of mesenteric-like folds or buttresses that anchored the cusps to the vessel wall. These folds extended 50-100 micrometers beyond the cusp margins on the outflow side of the valve. The attachments of the cusps, buttresses, and vessel wall to one another resulted in the formation of postvalvular sinuses, such that raised intraluminal pressure downstream to valve areas would distend the sinuses, causing leaflet apposition and hence valvular closure. The morphology of the valves was such that they were not considered to provide any significant impediment to the antegrade flow of lymph.