Summary
By preserving the intercellular or plasmatic space, perfusion fixation provides a particularly clear picture of the histological and cytological constitution of the spleen. An analysis of documents obtained with this technique has contributed new information concerning the organization of the intermediate circulation in that organ, and on the topographical relationships and ultrastructure of the various types of cell which are usually grouped under the common denomination of reticulo-endothelial system.
Currently available physiological data concerning the flow of blood through the spleen, together with the observed scarcity of sinuses, and of interstices in the latters' walls, to which must be added the narrowness of these interstices, incline us to question the existence of a circulatory system involving the passage of blood from the arterioles into the pulp cords of Billroth, and thence into the sinuses. Thus we are led to conceive of a system whereby about 97% of the blood entering the spleen would flow directly into the sinuses. Phagocytosis of worn blood cells would be carried out by a quantitatively less important side-stream, running parallel to the main stream, but nevertheless sufficiently fast to ensure that every blood cell should be shunted through the spaces of Billroth at least once every 24 hours.
The unitary concept of the RES, as it appears from the bulk of existing literature, is based upon the postulated, but never proven, existence of a single cell type capable of developing distinct morphological characteristics, and of carrying out distinct functions, namely phagocytosis and the laying down of reticulin, depending on its situation in the tissue. An ultrastructural study of the various cells encountered in sections of spleen, and a comparison with their counterparts in other organs, seem to rule out this unitarian view.
Résumé
La fixation par perfusion, en conservant l'espace intercellulaire ou plasmatique, donne une image de l'organisation structurale et cytologique de la rate particulièrement claire. L'analyse des documents aínsí obtenus fournit des données nouvelles sur l'organisation de la circulation intermédiaire et sur la position et l'aspect ultrastructural des cellules habituellement réunies sous le nom de système réticulo-endothélial. Les données de physiologie sur le débit splénique, le nombre de sinus observables et le relativement petit nombre et l'étroitesse des fentes sinusiennes font douter de l'existence d'un système circulatoire faisant passer le sang des artérioles dans les cordons de Billroth et de là dans les sinus. Ceci fait envisager un schéma de circulation faisant passer environ 97% du sang directement à travers le sinus. La phagocytose des éléments à détruire est assurée par une circulation parallèle peu importante, mais suffisante pour que chaque élément sanguin ait chaque jour la possibilité de passer par les cordons de Billroth.
La théorie du SRE est basée sur l'existence d'une cellule unique, différant seulement par sa position et assurant la macrophagie et la formation de la réticuline. L'étude de ces différents types de cellules au niveau de la rate et leur comparaison au niveau d'autres organes permet d'assurer qu'aucun argument de morphologie ultrastructurale ne peut l'étayer.
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This work was supported by grant No 4237 of the Swiss National Foundation for Scientific Research.
We wish to thank Mrs. Sidler-Ansermet for her invaluable technical assistance.
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Pictet, R., Orci, L., Forssmann, W.G. et al. An electron microscope study of the perfusion-fixed spleen. Z. Zellforsch. 96, 372–399 (1969). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335215
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00335215