ELECTRON-MICROSCOPIC STUDY OF INTRAEPITHELIAL LYMPHOCYTES IN HUMAN FETAL SMALL-INTESTINE

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  • 1 January 1977
    • journal article
    • research article
    • Vol. 37  (6) , 554-561
Abstract
Human small intestine was obtained from fetuses at 8-10 wk of gestation. Tissues were examined by EM. Lymphocytes were present as isolated cells in the mucosal mesenchyme as early as the 8th wk of intrauterine life and were found, in increasing numbers, in epithelium of specimens obtained from 11-20 wk old fetuses. All intraepithelial lymphocytes were located in lateral spaces between contiguous columnar cells. Some displayed cytoplasmic pseudopods and apparently migrated within extracellular spaces of the epithelial layer. Surface invaginations and cytoplasmic vesicles in fetal lymphocytes suggested that these cells were capable of pinocytotic activity. The possible origin and function of lymphocytes in fetal small intestine were discussed.