Formation of lymphoepithelial tissue in the sheep's palatine tonsil

Formation of lymphoepithelial tissue was studied in 1-, 10- and 21-day-old sheep. From each of the animals one of the tonsils was fixed in 4% glutaraldehyde for light- and electron microscopy while the other was frozen in liquid nitrogen for immunohistochemistry. These examinations revealed sequential histological events during the formation of reticular epithelium. (i) Appearance of a distinct epithelial cell indicates the initiation of the reticulation. The electron density of these epithelial cells is much lower than that of the common keratinocytes but the presence of cytoplasmic tonofibrils and desmosomes provides evidence that they are of epithelial origin. They may represent the precursors of M cells. Their appearance may be followed by expression of Ia+ molecules on the surrounding keratinocytes showed by isolated Ia+ areas in the epithelium. (ii) In the mesenchyme underneath the Ia+ epithelial areas, Ia+ dendritic-like cells emerge which immigrate through the basement membrane into the epithelium establishing a provisional dendro-epithelial tissue. In this stage of the reticular epithelium's formation large Ia+ areas are shown by immunostaining, which include the epithelium and mesenchyme. The origin of the Ia+ dendritic-like cells is uncertain but their distribution and dense accumulation underneath the epithelium suggest that they are transformed tonsillar mesenchymal cells. Similar cell transformation of mesenchymal cells takes place in the bursa of Fabricius prior to development of lymphoepithelial tissue. (iii) The M cell precursors together with the Ia+ dendritic-like cells adapt the epithelium to be suitable for receiving a large number of lymphoid cells. Immigration of the lymphoid cells into the epithelium transforms the dendro-epithelial tissue to a real lymphoepithelial one.