Lymphatic drainage of Listeria monocytogenes and Indian ink inoculated in the peritoneal cavity of the mouse.

The lymphatic drainage of the peritoneal cavity has been investigated by intraperitoneal inoculation of an intracellular bacterium (Listeria monocytogenes) and an inert marker (Indian ink). The results reveal that both agents are transported, either after phagocytosis by intraperitoneal macrophages or in suspension in the lymph, towards the cranial sternal lymph nodes (Lymphonodi sternales craniales) of the ventral thoracic lymphocentrum (Lymphocentrum thoracicum ventrale) and to the lymph nodes of the mediastinal lymphocentrum (Lymphocentrum mediastinale), prior to systemic dissemination. This mechanism of peritoneal lymph drainage has relevance on experimental studies involving the inoculation of pathogens, and on the investigation of metastatic diffusion of neoplasms from the peritoneum.