Microscopic anatomy of small-intestinal lymphoid patches in children and adults

Longitudinal histological sections of lymphoid patches (LP) in the small intestine, stained after van Gieson and with hematoxylin--eosin, obtained from 105 corpses of persons at the age of 0 up to 90 years have been studied. The LP parenchyma is presented as accumulation of lymphoid nodules++ with a germinative center, or without it and diffuse lymphoid tissue. The lymphoid nodules++ situate both in the mucous membrane and in the submucous tela of the small intestine. The area of the LP components in the newborns is the greatest--84% from the whole area of the LP section. During the human life it decreases and by the old age it makes 47%. The lymphoid nodules++ area with the germinative center in the newborns makes 21% from the area of the LP section, in children from 1 to 3 years of age it increases up to 50%, then it gradually decreases and in the elderly age it makes only 3.8%. The diffuse lymphoid tissue in the LP composition is revealed in all age periods. Size of the lymphoid nodules++ patches, situating in the jejunum and ileum walls in the newborns is the same. In children at the age of 10 days--12 years the LP nodules++ in the ileum are larger than those in the sejunum. The size of the LP noduli increase up to the period of the second childhood then decreases. The height of the lymphoid noduli in persons of mature, elderly and old ages decreases twice in comparison with the children of 3-12 years of age.     

Age-related aspects of the anatomy and topography of the human tubal tonsil

The tubal tonsil (TT) has been investigated in 60 preparations of the auditory tube (right and left), obtained from 30 corpses of persons at various age, those died from traumas and having neither any pathological changes in their acoustic organs, nor chronic inflammatory diseases by the time of death. The TT is presented as a solid or interrupted lymphoid tissue plate, situating in the mucosal membrane in the area of the pharyngeal opening to some extent in the inferior, posterior and anterior walls of the auditory tube. In newborns the TT is presented as a diffuse lymphoid tissue, where lymphoid nodules begin to form. The greatest amount of the lymphoid nodules in the TT are revealed in the infantile age and this sign is kept during subsequent age periods, including the first period of mature age. During these age periods on the surface of the mucosal membrane in the area of the pharyngeal opening numerous small eminences are seen--tubercles, corresponding in their position to lymphoid nodules under them. Beginning from the second mature period and up to old age the amount and size of the lymphoid nodules in the TT decreases. At that time on the surface of the mucosal membranes in the area of TT only single tubercles are revealed.     

The anatomy and topography of the lymphoid formations of the human stomach in postnatal ontogeny]

By means of macro-microscopical methods 80 stomachs from persons of various age have been studied. In the mucous membrane of the human stomach during all age periods of postnatal development the lymphoid tissue is present as diffusely scattered lymphocytes, their microaccumulations and lymphoid noduli. Maximal amount of the lymphoid noduli is observed during the second mature age. The greatest number of the lymphoid noduli per 1 cm2 of the mucous membrane surface is revealed in the area of the lesser curvature and in the pyloric part of the stomach. Most often the lymphoid noduli are situated in the depth of the lumen proper of the mucous membrane, somewhat more seldom--in its more superficial parts, in the muscular lamina and in the submucous tela. The lymphoid noduli with germinative centers are met beginning from the first childhood up to old age. The greatest amount of diffusively scattered lymphocytes is situated near the lymphoid noduli and in the deep layer of the lamina proper of the mucous membrane.     

Lymphoid nodules of the urinary bladder in man

Basing on macro- microscopical investigation of the urinary bladder in 94 persons, died at the period of birth up to old years and by the time of death having not any disease of the urinary apparatus, structure and topography of the lymphoid nodules, their amount, density of distribution in the mucous membrane of various parts of the organ have been studied. The germinative centers in the lymphoid nodules of the urinary bladder are not revealed. The external appearance of the nodules is not the same; some have clear contours others have no clearly manifested borders. We call them prenodules. The lymphoid nodules are situated near to each other without any definite order. And only near the ureteral openings they are always revealed in a small amount, in the area of the triangle; they are oriented, as a rule, from the ureteral openings towards the exit from the urinary bladder. The amount of the lymphoid nodules in the organ's wall varies (at an average) from 18, in newborns, up to 415, in adolescents, and up to 129, in old persons. Distribution density of the lymphoid nodules in the fundal area of the urinary bladder is somewhat greater, than in its superior parts. The size of the lymphoid nodules during all age periods is not more than 900 mcm.     

Variability in the myeloarchitectonics of the nerves of the thyroid arteries during postnatal human development

Serial transversal sections on the nerve-vascular complexes of four thyroid arteries in newborns, in persons of the 1st and 2d periods of mature age, in elderly and old persons (40 complexes in each age group) are stained after Weigert--Pahl. Amount of myelin fibers (MF) of three dimensional classes are defined micromorphometrically. Total amount of the MF in the nerves of all thyroid plexuses is the greatest in the persons belonging to the second mature period of age: it is 2.7 times as great as in the newborns. In the elderly persons it is 1.5 times, and in the old persons--1.8 times as little as in the persons of the second period of maturity. Thin MF make the absolute majority. The amount of the MF with middle caliber in the thyroid nerves of the mature persons is 6.6 times as great as in the newborns. Their amount in the old persons is 1.7 times as little as in the mature persons. Thick MF are absent in the newborns; in the mature and elderly persons they are observed now and then. The thick MF are characterized by a high variation coefficient (up to 84%). According to the criteria of absolute and relative contents of both total and group composition of the MF in postnatal period, three stages in development of the thyroid innervational connections performed by the MF are revealed: productive, stabilization and involution. The correlative analysis reveales a direct dependence in the system diameter of each thyroid artery--number of the MF in nerves of its plexus in the newborns and mature persons. This dependence becoms negative in the elderly and old persons.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Quantitative microscopic characteristics of cardial glands in in the human esophagus in postnatal ontogenesis

Microscopical investigation of oesophagus, obtained from corpses of 33 men and 33 women has been carried out (staining with hematoxylin and eosin, van Gieson). The cardial glands have been revealed in 92.4% of cases in the inferior and in 4.6% of cases in the superior third of the oesophageal wall. They have not been revealed in the superior third of the oesophageal wall. They have not been revealed in its medial third. Amount of acini in the section is essentially changeable. In elderly and old persons the ducts of the glands often form ampullar dilatations. The acinar areas on the section remain stable during the greatest++ period of the postnatal ontogenesis and only during old age they decrease slightly. The proper plate of the mucous membrane in the inferior part of the oesophagus in the zone, where the cardial glands are situated, is always thicker than in the area free from the acini. Close interrelations have been revealed between the cardial glands and lymphoid tissue of the oesophageal wall. The intensity of the glandular-lymphoid interrelations is insignificant in newborns and in children of suckling age. It is maximal in persons of mature and elderly age. Remaining at a sufficiently high level, the glandular-lymphoid associations in old persons are manifested in a less degree than in the previous age groups. No difference in organization of the cardial glands has been revealed in the superior and inferior parts of the oesophageal wall, as well as any sex peculiarities.     

Age and features of the content of myelinated fibers in nerves of the splenic plexus of man

The amount of the myelin fibers (MF) has been calculated in transversal serial sections of the nervous-vascular complexes of the splenic artery in newborns, in persons of mature (the 1st and 2d periods), elderly and old ages. In each age group 20 complexes have been studied. The total amount of the MF in persons of mature age (the 1st period) in 4.2-6 times greater (initial--terminal parts of the plexus) than in newborns, in the persons of old age it is 4-2.1 times less than in persons of mature age (in both cases P less than 0.001). Thin MF predominate, their relative contents in the aggregate of all classes of the MF in newborns are 92%, in mature persons--87%, in old persons--65%. Decreasing part of the thin MF together with increase of their absolute amount in the mature persons, comparing to the newborns, depends on higher rates in differentiation of middle and thick MF. Phenotyping peculiarities and stages of productive development, stabilization (the 1st-2d periods of the mature age), involutions of the nerve connections are defined in the splenic artery. The amount of the MF predominates in the nerves of the initial part of the plexus comparing to its terminal part. There is a direct correlative dependence between the amount of the MF in the plexus nerves and the size of the lumen in the splenic artery. Changes in the amount of the MF of different classes reflects qualitative differences of the splenic innervation relations at certain stages of the human postnatal development.     

Local characteristics and interrelations between glands and lymphoid conglomerations in the esophageal wall

Proper glands in 248 total preparations and lymphoid accumulations in 112 preparations have been investigated macro-microscopically in the human oesophageal preparations at various age. The organs have been obtained from 152 corpses of persons died from the death by violence and having no pathological changes in the organs of digestive and immune systems. The lymphoid tissue in the oesophageal wall is presented as accumulations of cells (prenodules++) and as diffusely scattered immune-competent cells. The glands and lymphoid accumulations are oriented as longitudinal rows. The lymphoid tissue accumulations are situated near to the glandular ducts, because the latter can serve as pathways for penetrating antigenic material into the organ's wall. The amount of the glands is maximal mature and elderly age, and that of lymphoid accumulations--at the second childhood. The dimensions of the gland body increase in the cranio-caudal direction, while the lymphoid accumulations, just the reverse, have their maximal dimensions in the upper third of the oesophagus. The gland bodies in places of the organ's anatomical narrowings in the section have more alveoles and are situated nearer to the covering epithelium than the glands in the neighbouring areas of the wall.     

The reaction of somatic lymph nodes to experimental exposure to sulfide baths]

Influence of strong sulfide baths of the sanatorium "Talgi" to the popliteal and superficial inguinal lymph nodes (LN) has been studied in 35 rats (140-150 g of body mass) and 15 animals have been used as the control. The slices are stained with hematoxyli-eosin, after van Gieson, Romanovsky-Giemsa, Kurnik and silver nitrate impregnation after Foot. The section area of the LN decreases, but amount of lymphoid nodules increases (especially in deep layers of the cortex). In the germinative centers amount of middle lymphocytes and mitoses becomes larger. In the internodular zones of the popliteal nodes amount of macrophages and eosinophiles enlarges significantly, and in the inguinal-amount of mast cells and eosinophiles. In the medullary sinuses amount of macrophages declines. In the medullary cords amount of immature plasma cells and blasts increases, while amount of mature cells decreases.     

Structure of the mesenteric lymph nodes in fetuses and offspring of white rats under the effect of indomethacin on the mother-fetus system

Mesenteric lymph nodes in fetuses and offspring of white rats have been studied during various age periods after indomethacin injection in doses 2.5 mg/kg and 1 mg/kg daily from the 18th up to 21st day of pregnancy. Dose-dependent retardation in formation of main structures of the mesenteric lymph nodes, decreasing amount of the lymphoid type cells have been revealed. Retardation in the capsule, sinuses and reticular fibers of the node takes place, as well as decrease in lympho- and plasmocytopoiesis. It is more pronounced after indomethacin in dose 2.5 mg/kg. Simultaneously, formation of the cerebral substance and appearance of lymphoid nodules and their germinative centers are delayed. After the drug effect (2.5 mg/kg), up to the age of 2 weeks the amount of tissue basophils and eosinophilic granulocytes decreases. When the dose of the drug is 1 mg/kg decreasing amount of these cells is substituted for their compensatory increase on the 2d-3d week. The data obtained demonstrate a decreasing function of the lymph nodes, that depends on the dose of indomethacin.     

Individual and age variability of the anatomy and topography of the human lymph nodes

Analysis of the author's and literature data revealed two peculiarities in the lymph node anatomy. One of them is characterized with a great variability of amount and size of the nodes in every regional group. The second peculiarity is that age involution of the lymphoid tissue in the nodes is demonstrated in elderly and old persons as a decreasing amount of the lymph nodes and as their enlargement.     

Structure of the small-intestinal lymphoid patches in albino rats at various stages of their development

The following stages in lymphoid patches (LP) development have been revealed: I-1-6, II-7-14, III-15-21, IV-22-30 days; during these periods lymphoid noduli with germinative centers, cupolae and internodular areas are formed. Amount of all kinds of cells in the LP parenchyma and their rearrangement in the zones takes place. In one-month-old rats blast forms predominate in the LP germinative centers, and small lymphocytes--in the zone of small lymphocytes of the noduli and internodular areas. Under conditions of antenatal effect of an antibiotic on the system mother--fetus there is no disturbances in formation of the anatomical structures. However at each stage of development the small intestine LP are not mature, concerning their cellular composition. Amount of cells decreases, their interrelationship changes. Lympho- and plasmocytopoiesis decreases.     

The temporal organization of the complex nodule in the lymph node

The aim of the work is to study rhythmic processes at tissue level in the lymph nodule and in the T-territory adjacent to it in order to reveal temporal interrelations in functioning the germinative center, crown and T-territory. The lymph nodule sections are stained with methylene green-pyronine. Small and middle lymphocytes, immunoblasts, plasmoblasts, immature and mature plasma cells, mitotic figures are taken into account. Spectral composition and rhythmic parameters are determined for each type of the cells in the ultradian, circadian and infradian ranges. Periods, approaching the circadian one, are revealed in the germinative centers for small lymphocytes and immature plasma cells. Practically, for all plasma cells the functional period near to 7 h is found; this attests the presence of the common synchronous rhythm driver. Phase difference of immunoblast, plasmablast, immature plasma cell fluctuation in the germinative centers makes it possible to suppose the time, necessary to transfer the immunoblast into the plasmablast (1.6-2.6 h) and the plasmablast into the immature plasma cell (3 h). Owing to the knowledge of the spectral composition of the rhythmic and parameters of certain components it is possible to approximate the total course of the process. Combination of fluctuations with various periods results in their recurrence in more prolonged time intervals.     

Morphology of mesenteric lymph nodes after balneologic procedures

Strong and weak sulfate baths produce certain increase in amount and in area of the lymphoid noduli with the germinative center, in the deep cortex and a decrease in the relative area of the medullary substance, while iodobromine baths facilitate to an outgrowth of the medullary cords and to ectasia of sinus lumens. After the balneoprocedures lymphoid noduli appear in the deep cortex; amount of destructive cells in the medullary sinuses, in the medullary cords and in the intermedullary zone decreases; amount of mast cells, eosinophiles and neutrophiles increases (slightly). Blast transformation of small lymphocytes and increase in number of middle lymphocytes are observed in the germinative centers.     

Lymphoid structures in the female endometrium in ontogenesis

Lymphoid formations of human endometrium are presented in stroma of the uterine corpus mucous membrane as lymphoid cells (so called diffuse lymphoid tissue), lymphoid nodules and interepithelial lymphocytes in glandular and covering epithelium++. Peculiarities in organization of these formations are seen as slight saturation of the endometrium with lymphoid tissue, small size of lymphoid nodules++. The lymphoid structures in question reach their maximal development during the adolescent and first mature age. During the generative period among diffusely arranged T-lymphocytes sub-populations of T-suppressors predominate. This is probably connected with participation of suppressive mechanisms of local immunity in ensuring blastocyst implantation.     

Histological studies on the development of porcine tonsils after birth

Tonsils form the topographically first immune barrier of an organism against the invasion of pathogens. We used histology to study the development of tonsils of pigs after birth. At birth, the tonsils consist of diffuse lymphoid tissue without any lymphoid follicle aggregations. At the age of 7 days, lymphoid follicles appeared in the soft palate tonsil. The lymphoid layer of the nasopharyngeal tonsil, soft palate tonsil, and lingual tonsil became thicker, and lymphoid follicles in the lamina propria were clearly visible at the age of 21 days. Secondary lymphoid follicles were present in the nasopharyngeal tonsil at the age of 50 days, and in the soft palate tonsil at the age of 120 days. Dendritic cells (DCs), CD3⁺ T cells and IgA⁺ B cells in the soft palate tonsil, nasopharyngeal tonsil and lingual tonsil increased continuously, especially during the first 21 days. The results suggested that tonsils have an important role in local immune defense against invading antigens after birth and will be beneficial for understanding the mechanisms of immunity in these animals after nasal and oral vaccination.     

Qualitative composition of the normal intestinal microflora in individuals from the various age groups

The study of the microflora of the large intestine in healthy adult volunteers of different age groups (25-36, 55-68 and 88-94 years old), living in Switzerland, has been carried out. As revealed by the analysis of the result obtained in this study, normal intestinal microflora in adults has different qualitative and quantitative characteristics at different periods of their life. The greatest diversity of intestinal microflora is observed at a mature age (55-68 years old), while the poorest microflora is observed in people more advanced in age. The amount of microorganisms inhabiting the intestine reaches its maximum in people of mature age and is low in elderly people. Changes in normal intestinal microflora are probaly linked with morpho-functional transformations in the host body at different periods of life. It is expedient to work out the criteria of norm for the microflora of different age groups with a view to use these criteria for the evaluation of the microbial status of the intestine in persons of different age.     

Determination in the system of the neuromuscular relations of the coronary arteries at stages in human postnatal development

By means of micromorphometric method in transversal sections of electively stained right and left coronary arteries the data, characterizing the area of the middle and external sheaths, amount of myelin fibers in nerves, accompanying the artery have been obtained in men of 8 age groups (from birth up to old age), who died from causes not connected with the cardiovascular pathology. The summary amount of all classes of myelin fibers increases synchronously with an increase of the muscle sheath area from newborn up to 35-45 years of age. After this age the amount of the myelin fibers decreases together with decreasing area of the middle sheath. Minimal values of these indices are observed in the old age (85-90 years). The external sheath area increases permanently from birth up to the old age. The correlative analysis reveals a positive and significant connection of various degree between the myelin fibers number and value of the middle arterial sheath in persons of juvenile, mature and elderly age: amount of the muscular layer is adequate to the myelin fibers amount. In other age groups the correlative connections are either small, or not significant. Alternative, corresponding to each age quantitative gradations of the nervous connections are determined by means of the peripheral substrate. Its role in the vessels investigated is performed, to a definite degree, by the muscle sheath.     

Evidence of a true pharyngeal tonsil in birds: a novel lymphoid organ in Dromaius novaehollandiae and Struthio camelus (Palaeognathae)

ABSTRACT: BACKGROUND: Tonsils are secondary lymphoid organs located in the naso- and oropharynx of most mammalian species. Most tonsils are characterised by crypts surrounded by dense lymphoid tissue. However, tonsils without crypts have also been recognised. Gut-associated lymphoid tissue (GALT), although not well-organised and lacking tonsillar crypts, is abundant in the avian oropharynx and has been referred to as the "pharyngeal tonsil". In this context the pharyngeal folds present in the oropharynx of ratites have erroneously been named the pharyngeal tonsils. This study distinguishes between the different types and arrangements of lymphoid tissue in the pharyngeal region of D. novaehollandiae and S. camelus and demonstrates that both species possess a true pharyngeal tonsil which fits the classical definition of tonsils in mammals. RESULTS: The pharyngeal tonsil (Tonsilla pharyngea) of D. novaehollandiae was located on the dorsal free surface of the pharyngeal folds and covered by a small caudo-lateral extension of the folds whereas in S. camelus the tonsil was similarly located on the dorsal surface of the pharyngeal folds but was positioned retropharyngeally and encapsulated by loose connective tissue. The pharyngeal tonsil in both species was composed of lymph nodules, inter-nodular lymphoid tissue, mucus glands, crypts and intervening connective tissue septa. In S. camelus a shallow tonsillar sinus was present. Aggregated lymph nodules and inter-nodular lymphoid tissue was associated with the mucus glands on the ventral surface of the pharyngeal folds in both species and represented the Lymphonoduli pharyngeales. Similar lymphoid tissue, but more densely packed and situated directly below the epithelium, was present on the dorsal, free surface of the pharyngeal folds and represented a small, non-follicular tonsil. CONCLUSIONS: The follicular pharyngeal tonsils in D. novaehollandiae and S. camelus are distinct from the pharyngeal folds in these species and perfectly fit the classical mammalian definition of pharyngeal tonsils. The presence of a true pharyngeal tonsil differentiates these two ratite species from other known avian species where similar structures have not been described. The pharyngeal tonsils in these ratites may pose a suitable and easily accessible site for immune response surveillance as indicated by swelling and inflammation of the tonsillar tissue and pharyngeal folds. This would be facilitated by the fact that the heads of these commercially slaughtered ratites are discarded, thus sampling at these sites would not result in financial losses.     

A morphologic study of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue in turkeys

Bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) in normal turkeys of ages 1 day and 1, 2, 3, 4, 8, and 18 weeks was examined by light microscopy and by scanning and transmission electron microscopy. Turkey BALT resembled other mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues; it was made up of a population of lymphocytes covered by a specialized epithelium different from typical pseudostratified ciliated columnar bronchial epithelium. There were distinct age-related differences in BALT structure. Bronchus-associated lymphoid nodules were larger and more numerous in older turkeys. In 1-day- to 2-week-old turkeys, the primary cell type of BALT epithelium was nonciliated cuboidal; in 2-week old turkeys it was squamous; and in turkeys older than 4-weeks of age, the epithelium was primarily ciliated columnar. In 1- to 4-week old turkeys, large numbers of intraepithelial lymphocytes disrupted the normal organization of the epithelium. In older turkeys, epithelial and lymphoid cells were in discrete compartments separated by connective tissue. Lymphocytes in 1-day-old turkeys were found in loose aggregates around venules and within the epithelium. In 1-week old turkeys, lymphocytes were organized into compartments of morphologically similar cells. By 3-weeks of age, lymphocytes were present in distinct germinal centers. Epithelial cells of BALT did not have large numbers of apical vesicles and thus were not structurally specialized for antigen uptake by endocytosis. However, the epithelial barrier appeared to be disrupted over lymphoid nodules, suggesting that antigen would be readily available to lymphocytes and phagocytes in BALT. Age-related differences in turkey BALT structure may have functional consequences with respect to the respiratory immune response.