Biopolymers and cell. 1996; 12 (5): 56 - 65

The characteristics of popliteal and inguinal lymphatic nodes after rat's leg denervation

N.A.Melnik

The right sciatic neurotomy was carried out on white rats (120—200 g) under thiopental anesthesia. The lymphatic system responded by a number of morphofunctional changes at sciatic nerve regeneration. The analysis of the results obtained proved, that in the early period, the size of regional lymph nodes reduced and the lymphoid tissue hypoplasia occured. These changes resulted from the excessive content of cor-ticosteroids inhibiting tymphocytopoesis. Popliteal lymphatic nodes were denervated. This led to the in¬crease of the nodes size, due to the intensive infiltration by the erythrocytes and neutrophils. A strong immune reaction was observed 10 days after the neurotomy. Inguinal lymphatic nodes reacted to the dener¬vation by morphological changes which are characteristic of stimulation by an antigen, possibly mielin. Later the size of the majority of the nodes structural components increased, reaching the control level.