Reconstruction system of rat lymphatic tracts after total iliac lymphadenectomy

The lymphatic network is capable of reconstruction after the regional lymphadenectomy; however, the biological reconstruction system has not been fully elucidated. Our aim is to evaluate the reconstruction system after bilateral iliac lymphadenectomy using rat models and to establish and characterize rat lymphatic endothelial cells (rLECs) from the reconstructed tracts, compared with those from pre-existing vessels.

Under general anesthesia, we excised the dyed bilateral lymphatic vessels. We reopened the treated rats again after 2-10 weeks to observe the reconstruction system. We isolated and cultured rLECs from afferent, efferent and reconstructed lymphatic vessels. We characterized them morphologically and biologically, and examined their activity of proliferation, migration and invasion.

We demonstrated that lymph vessels were reconstructed at 4-10 weeks at the site of surgical removal of iliac lymphatic channels, which occurred mainly at the left side of abdomen of the rat (86% on the left side). Isolated cells were all confirmed to be rLECs by expression of lymphatic vessel-specific markers. Proliferative activity of reconstructed rLECs was significantly higher than the other two strains of rLECs.

We first established the reconstruction system after rat total iliac lymphadenectomy and characterized rLECs from the three strains of lymphatic vessels.