Abstract
Thymic blood and lymphatic vessels in humans and laboratory animals have been investigated in morphological studies. However, occasionally a clear distinction between blood vessels and lymphatic vessels cannot be made from morphological characteristics of the vasculature. To visualize thymic lymphatics in normal adult BALB/c mice, we used antibodies against specific markers of lymphatic endothelial cells. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) was detected throughout the thymus, i.e., the capsule, cortex, and medulla. Most thymic lymphatics were present in capillaries of ∼20 μm in caliber. The plexuses of lymphatic capillaries were occasionally detectable. Lymphatic vessels were frequently adjacent to CD31-positive blood vessels, and some lymphatic vessels were seen in the immediate vicinity of or within the perivascular spaces around postcapillary venules. The identity of VEGFR-3-positive vessels as lymphatics was further confirmed by staining with additional markers: LYVE-1, Prox-1, neuropilin-2, and secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC). The distributions of LYVE-1 were similar to those of VEGFR-3. Most lymphatic vessels were also identified by Prox-1. Neuropilin-2 was restricted to lymphatic vessels in the thymus. The most abundant expression of SLC in the thymus was in medullar epithelial cells; SLC was also expressed in lymphatic vessels and blood vessels. Thus, lymphatic endothelium in mouse thymus was characterized by positive staining with antibodies to VEGFR-3, LYVE-1, Prox-1, neuropilin-2, or SLC, but not with an antibody to CD31. Our results suggest the presence of lymphatic capillary networks throughout the thymus.
| Original language | English |
|---|---|
| Pages (from-to) | 13-22 |
| Number of pages | 10 |
| Journal | Cell and Tissue Research |
| Volume | 325 |
| Issue number | 1 |
| DOIs | |
| Publication status | Published - 2006 Jul |
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Keywords
- Blood vessels
- Lymphatic vessels
- Mouse (BALB/c)
- Thymus
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Anatomy
- Clinical Biochemistry
- Cell Biology
Cite this
Distribution of lymphatic vessels in mouse thymus : Immunofluorescence analysis. / Odaka, Chikako; Morisada, Toru; Oike, Yuichi; Suda, Toshio.
In: Cell and Tissue Research, Vol. 325, No. 1, 07.2006, p. 13-22.Research output: Contribution to journal › Article
}
TY - JOUR
T1 - Distribution of lymphatic vessels in mouse thymus
T2 - Immunofluorescence analysis
AU - Odaka, Chikako
AU - Morisada, Toru
AU - Oike, Yuichi
AU - Suda, Toshio
PY - 2006/7
Y1 - 2006/7
N2 - Thymic blood and lymphatic vessels in humans and laboratory animals have been investigated in morphological studies. However, occasionally a clear distinction between blood vessels and lymphatic vessels cannot be made from morphological characteristics of the vasculature. To visualize thymic lymphatics in normal adult BALB/c mice, we used antibodies against specific markers of lymphatic endothelial cells. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) was detected throughout the thymus, i.e., the capsule, cortex, and medulla. Most thymic lymphatics were present in capillaries of ∼20 μm in caliber. The plexuses of lymphatic capillaries were occasionally detectable. Lymphatic vessels were frequently adjacent to CD31-positive blood vessels, and some lymphatic vessels were seen in the immediate vicinity of or within the perivascular spaces around postcapillary venules. The identity of VEGFR-3-positive vessels as lymphatics was further confirmed by staining with additional markers: LYVE-1, Prox-1, neuropilin-2, and secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC). The distributions of LYVE-1 were similar to those of VEGFR-3. Most lymphatic vessels were also identified by Prox-1. Neuropilin-2 was restricted to lymphatic vessels in the thymus. The most abundant expression of SLC in the thymus was in medullar epithelial cells; SLC was also expressed in lymphatic vessels and blood vessels. Thus, lymphatic endothelium in mouse thymus was characterized by positive staining with antibodies to VEGFR-3, LYVE-1, Prox-1, neuropilin-2, or SLC, but not with an antibody to CD31. Our results suggest the presence of lymphatic capillary networks throughout the thymus.
AB - Thymic blood and lymphatic vessels in humans and laboratory animals have been investigated in morphological studies. However, occasionally a clear distinction between blood vessels and lymphatic vessels cannot be made from morphological characteristics of the vasculature. To visualize thymic lymphatics in normal adult BALB/c mice, we used antibodies against specific markers of lymphatic endothelial cells. Expression of vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-3 (VEGFR-3) was detected throughout the thymus, i.e., the capsule, cortex, and medulla. Most thymic lymphatics were present in capillaries of ∼20 μm in caliber. The plexuses of lymphatic capillaries were occasionally detectable. Lymphatic vessels were frequently adjacent to CD31-positive blood vessels, and some lymphatic vessels were seen in the immediate vicinity of or within the perivascular spaces around postcapillary venules. The identity of VEGFR-3-positive vessels as lymphatics was further confirmed by staining with additional markers: LYVE-1, Prox-1, neuropilin-2, and secondary lymphoid tissue chemokine (SLC). The distributions of LYVE-1 were similar to those of VEGFR-3. Most lymphatic vessels were also identified by Prox-1. Neuropilin-2 was restricted to lymphatic vessels in the thymus. The most abundant expression of SLC in the thymus was in medullar epithelial cells; SLC was also expressed in lymphatic vessels and blood vessels. Thus, lymphatic endothelium in mouse thymus was characterized by positive staining with antibodies to VEGFR-3, LYVE-1, Prox-1, neuropilin-2, or SLC, but not with an antibody to CD31. Our results suggest the presence of lymphatic capillary networks throughout the thymus.
KW - Blood vessels
KW - Lymphatic vessels
KW - Mouse (BALB/c)
KW - Thymus
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=33746441964&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=33746441964&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1007/s00441-005-0139-3
DO - 10.1007/s00441-005-0139-3
M3 - Article
C2 - 16541287
AN - SCOPUS:33746441964
VL - 325
SP - 13
EP - 22
JO - Cell and Tissue Research
JF - Cell and Tissue Research
SN - 0302-766X
IS - 1
ER -