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Studies on the ultrastructure of the lymph nodes

I. The reticular network

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Summary

The reticular network of the lymph nodes has been studied with a variety of methods aimed to elucidate its chemical composition, submicroscopic structure and relationship with the cells.

To study the chemical composition, the reticular network has first been isolated by means of sonic disruption and differential centrifugation, avoiding the use of enzymes or chemical extractions. The material prepared in this way has been studied with the polarized light and electron microscopes and has been subjected to X-ray diffraction and chemical analysis, including chromatographic separation of the collagenous proteins.

The results of this work show that the reticular network of lymph nodes has a chemical composition similar to that of loose connective tissues: the fibrils are made of collagenous proteins and the concept of “reticulin” as a chemical or morphological entity does not appear to be justified.

In addition the structure of the reticular network and its relationships with the different cells have been studied with the electron microscope on ultrathin sections of lymph nodes from dogs, cats, rabbits and rats: the reticular fibres appeared to be made of bundles of collagen fibrils with the typical banded structure; the fibres have close contacts with the reticular cells and also with the lymphoid elements of the nodes.

In conclusion no elements exist that point towards some specific properties of the reticular connective tissue: the reticular network of the lymph nodes appears not to be basically different from the usual loose connective tissue from which it is distinct only because it harbours a considerable number of immunologically competent cells of the lymphoid series; functional interrelationships between the reticular and lymphoid cells in the nodes are, of course, not excluded.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Institute of Human Anatomy and Clinica del Lavoro ≪L. Devoto≫, University of Milan, Italy

    Angelo Bairati, Luisa Amante, Stefanello de Petris & Benvenuto Pernis

Authors
  1. Angelo Bairati
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  2. Luisa Amante
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  3. Stefanello de Petris
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  4. Benvenuto Pernis
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Additional information

To Prof. F. E. Lehmann on his sixtieth birth day.

Supported by a grant of C.N.R.

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Bairati, A., Amante, L., de Petris, S. et al. Studies on the ultrastructure of the lymph nodes. Zeitschrift für Zellforschung 63, 644–672 (1964). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00339912

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00339912

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