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Qualitative und quantitative Untersuchungen am Lymphgefäßsystem des Mäuseherzens

Distribution of the lymph vessels in the mouse heart. A light and electron microscopic study

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Summary

The lymphatic system in normal mouse heart was investigated by light and electro microscopy.

Lymph vessels were only demonstrated in the subepicardial layer and the outer half of the myocardium. Here above all they were situated in close vicinity to arteries and thin-walled veins, rarely separated in the interstitial space, never in the subendocardial layer of the left ventricular wall.

The myocardium contains only 2 lymph vessels per mm2. By means of electron microscopy all lymph vessels were regarded as lymph capillaries. Their ultrastructure is described in detail.

This investigation shows that lymph vessels in normal heart are rarer than supposed till now. It is possible that most of the ultrafiltrated fluid is drained by the cardiac venous, system, while the lymphatic system only has to transport a small amount of protein-rich fluid.

Zusammenfassung

Das Lymphgefäßsystem im normalen Mäuseherzen wurde licht- und elektronenmikroskopisch untersucht. Lymphgefäße wurden lediglich subepikardial und in der äußeren Hälfte des Myokards nachgewiesen. Sie lagen im Myokard vor allem in Nachbarschaft von Arterien und dünnwandigen Venen und nur vereinzelt isoliert im Myokard. Subendokardial fehlten sie in der linken Kammerwand. Intramyokardial fanden sich im Durchschnitt lediglich zwei Lymphgefäße/mm2. Elektronenmikroskopisch erwiesen sich alle Lymphgefäße im Mäuseherzen als Lymphkapillaren. Ihre Feinstruktur, wird eingehend beschrieben.

Aus den Untersuchungen geht hervor, daß Lymphgefäße im Herzen sehr viel spärlicher vorkommen, als bischer zumeist angenommen. Offenbar fließt der größte Teil der aus den Kapillaren ultrafiltrierten Flüssigkeit über das venöse System des Herzens ab, und nur ein kleiner proteinreicher Anteil wird über das Lymphgefäßsystem abtransportiert.

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Author notes

  1. A. Böger &  W. Hort

    Present address: Pathologisches Institut der Universität Marburg (Lahn), Robert-Koch-Straße 5, D-3550, Marburg 1

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    1. A. Böger
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    Böger, A., Hort, W. Qualitative und quantitative Untersuchungen am Lymphgefäßsystem des Mäuseherzens. Basic Res Cardiol 72, 510–529 (1977). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01910414

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