Intraorgan lymphatics with special reference to the pancreas
Navas, Vivian
This item is only available for download by members of the University of Illinois community. Students, faculty, and staff at the U of I may log in with your NetID and password to view the item. If you are trying to access an Illinois-restricted dissertation or thesis, you can request a copy through your library's Inter-Library Loan office or purchase a copy directly from ProQuest.
Permalink
https://hdl.handle.net/2142/22724
Description
Title
Intraorgan lymphatics with special reference to the pancreas
Author(s)
Navas, Vivian
Issue Date
1990
Doctoral Committee Chair(s)
O'Morchoe, Patricia J.
Department of Study
Biology
Discipline
Biology
Degree Granting Institution
University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Degree Name
Ph.D.
Degree Level
Dissertation
Keyword(s)
Biology, Anatomy
Biology, General
Language
eng
Abstract
Pancreatic enzymes have been found in lymph but the pathways by which they enter the lymphatics is unclear. In this study a combined light and electron microscopic technique was utilized along with a morphometric analysis system to investigate the structure and distribution of lymphatic vessels in the head, body and tail portions of the rat pancreas. Serial thick sections of perfused tissue were mounted on slides, with alternate sections left uncovered to be reembedded for electron microscopy. Inter and intralobular vessels, ultrastructurally confirmed as lymphatics by the absence of both a continuous basal lamina and fenestrae, were found associated with blood vessels. Vessels with valves were confirmed as lymphatics. Valves were bicuspid and associated with basal lamina. Lymphatics directly associated with acini or endocrine tissue were rare. Quantitative data such as volume and profile densities of the lymphatics were obtained with the an image analysis system. An analysis was similarly carried out on the endothelial vesicles of the wall and valves of the vessels and on the width of the intercellular junctions. Such information is necessary to understand the cellular transport mechanisms responsible for lymph formation.
It has been reported that there are enzymatic differences between blood and lymphatic endothelium. For example, it has been indicated that at the light microscopic level, alkaline phosphatase activity is present only in blood capillary whereas 5$\sp\prime$nucleotidase may be detected in both types of capillaries. This study was designed to examine these enzymatic differences at the light and electron microscopic level. Staining of tissues from rat thyroid, heart, pancreas and kidney was carried out. Alkaline phosphatase reaction product was found in 90% of blood capillaries. However, it was also found in the endothelium of 33% of lymphatics. 5$\sp\prime$nucleotidase activity was present in all lymphatics and in 75% of blood capillaries. Although this study supports observations made at the light microscopic level, it indicates that the enzyme activity is not as specific as previously suggested. The level of enzyme activity may, in fact, vary with differing degrees of activity of individual vessels.
Use this login method if you
don't
have an
@illinois.edu
email address.
(Oops, I do have one)
IDEALS migrated to a new platform on June 23, 2022. If you created
your account prior to this date, you will have to reset your password
using the forgot-password link below.
