Mesenteric lymph nodes: cells with surface and sytoplasmic immunoglobulins

Abstract
The distribution and morphology of cells with surface and cytoplasmic immunoglobulins were investigated in mesenteric lymph nodes (MLN) from rats, using both frozen and (fixed) paraffin sections, with a two-step immunoperoxidase technique. Anti-IgA, -IgE, -IgG and-IgM sera were used. Surface Ig-cells (sIg) of all four isotypes studied were found in MLN, mainly localized in the interfollicular area and within the follicle corona. The percentages of sIgA, IgE, IgG and IgM were about 15, 5, 45 and 35%, respectively. In addition, sIgM- and sIgG-cells were found around high endothelial venules. The percentages of cells containing IgA, IgG or IgM (cIg-cells) were about 60, 25 and 15%, respectively; only a few cIgE-cells were found. cIg-cells were not only present in the interfollicular areas and the medulla but also within the germinal centers of the follicles. These results are discussed with regard to the interaction between Peyer’s patches (PP) and MLN.