Interdigitating reticulum cells in the popliteal lymph node of the rat. An ultrastructural and cytochemical study.

Electronmicroscopic and cytochemical studies were performed to localize interdigitating reticulum cells (IDC) in the popliteal lymph node of the rat. The morphological features of the IDC of the rat correspond to those described for other species, but also show similarities to normal macrophages in the rat. This is considered to be an argument in favour of the common origin of IDC's and macrophages. Ultrahistochemical studies with horseradish peroxidase (HRP) reveal no phagocytotic capacity of IDC's. After perfusion fixation containing ruthenium red (RR) the surface coat stains heavily: RR is also found deep in the membrane invaginations of the IDC, indicating the presence of polyanionic sialoglycoproteins. The post-capillary-venules (PVC) are very permeable to both HRP and RR. The phosphotungstic acid-chromic acid stain (PTA-CrA) also reveals glycoproteins in the surface coat; these glycoproteins are susceptible to alpha-neuraminidase, whereas glycoproteins in the Golgi complexes, lysosomes and in the vesicular complexes of IDC are not. The glycoproteins of the latter are susceptible to 0.1 N NaOH. These findings indicate that IDC produce different kinds of glycoprotein, one of which may be secreted and act as a factor for stimulating peripheral T-lymphocytes. Intimate contact between IDC's and PCV's could be observed. It is therefore conceivable that IDC's play an important role in the homing of T-lymphocytes.