The presence of lymphatic stomata in the ovarian bursa of the golden hamster.

The histology and function of the lymphatic system in the ovarian bursa of the golden hamster were examined at each day of the estrous cycle. The lymphatic passage from the ovarian bursa to a para-aortic lymph node was stained black by india ink injected into the bursal cavity. This suggests that bursal fluid drains from the cavity via lymphatic vessels. Lymphatic stomata connecting the bursal cavity with the lymphatic lumen were consistently present throughout the cycle. However, the stomata were more frequently observed in the bursae on day 1 than on day 4 of the cycle. Also, they were more frequently observed in the bursa injected with 5 microliters of chick erythrocytes than in the contralateral (not injected) bursa in hamsters on day 4 of the cycle. These results suggest that the stomata are openings the patency of which varies in response to changes in the bursal cavity. There were regions where the lymphatic lumen was separated from the bursal cavity only by lymphatic endothelial cells. These regions were present throughout the estrous cycle. They may be patent stomata; dehiscence of junctions between the endothelial cells may give rise to stomata or widen the stomata orifices that are already present.