Felten S Y, Olschowka J
Department of Neurobiology and Anatomy, University of Rochester School of Medicine and Dentistry, New York 14642.
J Neurosci Res. 1987;18(1):37-48. doi: 10.1002/jnr.490180108.
Immunocytochemistry was used to demonstrate tyrosine hydroxylase (TH)-positive profiles in the spleen of the adult Fischer 344 rat. At the light microscopic level, numerous varicose nerve profiles were seen in the white pulp, particularly surrounding the central arteries and their arteriole branches. At the electron microscopic level, varicosities were seen in close proximity to smooth muscle cells of the arteries, and directly abutting lymphocytes (presumable T-lymphocytes) of the nearby periarteriolar lymphatic sheath. There were no intervening cell processes between the TH-positive terminals and the lymphocyte. The opposing membranes were smooth and evenly spaced approximately 6 nm apart. Additional TH-positive nerve profiles were seen in the inner marginal zone and within trabeculae. The correlation between this immunocytochemical staining and previously demonstrated histofluorescence for norepinephrine leads to the conclusion that lymphocytes in the splenic white pulp have direct associations with noradrenergic fibers of the sympathetic nervous system. This association provides a route by which the autonomic nervous system could directly influence specific immune system effector cells.
免疫细胞化学法用于在成年费希尔344大鼠脾脏中显示酪氨酸羟化酶（TH）阳性结构。在光学显微镜水平，在白髓中可见大量曲张神经结构，尤其是围绕中央动脉及其小动脉分支处。在电子显微镜水平，在靠近动脉平滑肌细胞处可见曲张体，且直接邻接附近动脉周围淋巴鞘的淋巴细胞（推测为T淋巴细胞）。TH阳性终末与淋巴细胞之间不存在中间细胞突起。相对的细胞膜光滑，间距均匀，约为6纳米。在内边缘区和小梁内还可见其他TH阳性神经结构。这种免疫细胞化学染色与先前证明的去甲肾上腺素组织荧光之间的相关性得出结论：脾白髓中的淋巴细胞与交感神经系统的去甲肾上腺素能纤维有直接联系。这种联系提供了一条自主神经系统可直接影响特定免疫系统效应细胞的途径。
