Li Yan-Yuan, Li Ji-Cheng
Department of Lymphology, Zhejiang University School of Medicine, 310031 Hangzhou, China.
Ann Anat. 2004 Feb;186(1):25-31. doi: 10.1016/S0940-9602(04)80114-6.
The objective of this study was twofold: first to investigate the ultrastructure of the lymphatic drainage unit on the costal pleura of rats by electron microscopy, and secondly to examine the effect of nitric oxide on the pleural lymphatic stomata and fluid absorption from the pleural cavity. The lymphatic drainage unit of the rat costal pleura is composed of three special components: the lymphatic stomata between the mesothelial cells, the initial part of the lymphatic vessels and the underlying connective tissue containing many foramina. The unit is the main passage to drainage fluid, particles and cells in the pleural space. To investigate the regulator of the lymph drainage, nitric oxide synthase inhibitor and nitric oxide donor were injected into the peritoneal cavity of the rats, respectively. Trypan blue was used as tracer. The ultrastructural changes of pleural lymphatic stomata were observed under scanning electron microscope and analyzed by a computer image processing system. It turned out that the area and density of the pleural lymphatic stomata were positively correlated with the nitric oxide quantity (p < 0.05). After the tracer was injected into the pleural cavity, the nitric oxide donor group exhibited a higher trypan blue concentration than the control group (p < 0.05). The ability of the pleura to absorb trypan blue was enhanced because of the larger opening of the lymphatic stomata (p < 0.05). It is suggested that nitric oxide can increase lymphatic absorption of the pleura by opening pleural lymphatic stomata.
一是通过电子显微镜研究大鼠肋胸膜淋巴引流单位的超微结构，二是研究一氧化氮对胸膜淋巴小孔及胸膜腔液体吸收的影响。大鼠肋胸膜的淋巴引流单位由三个特殊成分组成：间皮细胞之间的淋巴小孔、淋巴管起始部以及含有许多小孔的下方结缔组织。该单位是胸膜腔内液体、颗粒和细胞引流的主要通道。为研究淋巴引流的调节因子，分别将一氧化氮合酶抑制剂和一氧化氮供体注入大鼠腹腔。用台盼蓝作为示踪剂。在扫描电子显微镜下观察胸膜淋巴小孔的超微结构变化，并通过计算机图像处理系统进行分析。结果表明，胸膜淋巴小孔的面积和密度与一氧化氮量呈正相关（p<0.05）。将示踪剂注入胸膜腔后，一氧化氮供体组的台盼蓝浓度高于对照组（p<0.05）。由于淋巴小孔开口较大，胸膜吸收台盼蓝的能力增强（p<0.05）。提示一氧化氮可通过开放胸膜淋巴小孔增加胸膜的淋巴吸收。
