The construction of lymphangions of the rat thoracic duct

Abstract

In this work, the ultrastructural analysis of the structure of lymphangions of the thoracic duct of a rat was carried out. During the study, the lymphangions of the thoracic duct of outbred male white rats were studied under standard vivarium conditions. The material for electron microscopy was fixed in a 2.5% solution of glutaraldehyde on 0.1 M phosphate buffer pH of 7.2-7.4 for 2 hours, followed by fixation in a solution of 1% osmium tetraoxide for 1 hour at a temperature of 5°С. It was poured into a mixture of epon-araldite, and serial semi-thin sections with a thickness of 1-2 microns, which were stained with methylene blue 1% solution, were obtained. After identification of the necessary objects, the blocks were sharpened and targeted ultrathin sections were prepared on an LKB-3 ultratome, contrasted in a 2.5% solution of uranyl acetate and a 0.3% solution of Reynolds Led Citrate, and scanned in JEM-100 CX electron microscopes. The conducted research indicates that the thoracic lymphatic duct of a rat has a poly-lymphangion system construction. The functional organization of the muscle cuff and the valve section of lymphangions are determined by the ratio and orientation of smooth muscle cells, the geometry of the laying of collagen and elastic fibers.