An electron microscopic and enzyme histochemical study of the boundary zone between the white and red pulp of the human spleen.

Three parts were distinguished by electron microscopy and by enzyme histochemistry at the boundary zone between the white and red pulp of the human spleen. The first was the inner layer of the perifollicular region, composed of medium-sized lymphocytes with abundant free ribosomes in their cytoplasm. A small number of reticulum cells intervened among these lymphocytes. This inner layer was considered to correspond to the "Follikelaussenzone" (Strasser). The second was the outer layer of the perifollicular region, composed of a meshwork of reticulum cells with reticular fibers, and sheathed and non-sheathed arteries. Small and medium-sized lymphocytes, granulocytes, erythrocytes, platelets, and a small number of plasma cells were observed in the mesh spaces. This outer layer was considered to correspond to the "marginal zone" (Snook). At the outermost part of this layer, the venous sinus appeared. There was no distinct border between this layer and the red pulp. The third was the neighboring region of the periarterial lymphoid sheath, showeing similar structure and cellular components to the outer layer of the perifollicular region. It was characteristic feature for the lymphocytes and some of the reticulum cells of this region to have a strong activity for alkaline phosphatase reaction, while the lymphocytes of the outer layer showed only a weak activity. Adenosine triphosphatase and 5'-nucleotidase activities were demonstrated on the lymphocytes of these three parts of the boundary zone as well as the lymph follicle. Different activities for these enzyme reactions may indicate the functional properties of the B-cell system.