Peptidergic innervation of mesenteric lymphatics in guinea pigs: an immunocytochemical and pharmacological study.

By immunocytochemistry, substance P immunoreactive (SP-IR) and vasoactive intestinal peptide immunoreactive (VIP-IR) nerve fibers were examined in guinea pig mesenteric lymph collectors. The immunoreactive nerve fibers, located in the adventitia of lymphatics, were few and were irregularly distributed along the vessel wall. These fibers appeared to be more numerous and more evenly distributed along the corresponding artery and vein walls within the same area.

Ultrastructural cytochemistry of anchoring filaments of human lymphatic capillaries and their relation to elastic fibers.

In previous studies "anchoring filaments" of human lymphatic capillaries have been shown to consist of microfibrils having histochemical and ultrastructural characteristics similar to elastin-associated microfibrils. When not associated with an elastin component, these microfibrils are referred to as "oxytalan microfibrils." In this study, alpha-glycol-containing carbohydrates and glycoconjugated sulfate groups, originating from sulphydryls and/or disulfide bridges, have been detected in anchoring filament microfibrils of human lymphatic capillaries by Thiery reaction (PA-TCH-SP) and "Hight Iron Diamine" cytochemical method (HID), respectively.

A fibrillar elastic apparatus around human lymph capillaries.

A fibrillar elastic apparatus around the wall of human lymph capillaries is demonstrated by means of histochemical and ultrastructural techniques. This apparatus consists of three interlinked components listed here in order of increasing distance from the capillary wall: 1) oxytalan fibres connected to the abluminal surface of the endothelial cells, known also as "anchoring filaments" and consisting of bundles of microfibrils; 2) elaunin fibres consisting of microfibrils and a small amount of elastin; and 3) typical elastic fibres consisting of microfibrils and abundant elastin. The microfibrillar constituent has similar ultrastructural features in the three components of the elastic apparatus.

Morphometric analysis of elastic fibers in human skin lymphatic capillaries.

In contrast to their absence near dermal blood capillaries, elastic fibers are commonly seen adjacent to dermal lymphatic capillaries under light microscopy. Based on morphometric analysis, the elastic fiber network that surrounds these skin lymphatic capillaries is predominantly oriented longitudinally to the lymphatic vessel wall. Quantitative analysis reveals that the density of these pericapillary elastic fibers are almost twice that of the intercapillary elastic fibers but only about one-half as thick.

Type 3 (chronic) GM1 gangliosidosis presenting as infanto-choreo-athetotic dementia, without epilepsy, in three sisters.

Three sisters (ages 27, 24, and 17 years) presented with slowly progressing dystonic dementia and spastic tetraparesis with infantile onset. CSF, bone marrow, and conjunctival cells showed storage vacuoles. Biochemical analysis revealed increased urinary oligosaccharide excretion and decreased activity of acid beta-D-galactosidase and beta-D-fucosidase in serum, leukocytes, and cultured fibroblasts.