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Updated: Dec 20, 2025
Blocking Lymph Flow by Suturing Afferent Lymphatic Vessels in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2020
Blocking Lymph Flow by Suturing Afferent Lymphatic Vessels in Mice.
Yujia Lin1, Jingna Xue2, Shan Liao3
1Department of General Surgery, The Second Affiliated Hospital of Harbin Medical University, Harbin Medical University; Inflammation Research Network, Department of Microbiology, Immunology and Infectious Diseases, Snyder Institute for Chronic Diseases, Cumming School of Medicine, University of Calgary; kly1319@163.com.
Suturing afferent lymphatic vessels selectively blocks lymph flow to lymph nodes (LNs). This method aids research into lymphatic vessel function and immune responses without damaging key lymphatic structures.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Vascular Biology
- Physiology
Background:
- Lymphatic vessels are crucial for fluid balance and immune surveillance.
- Understanding lymphatic vessel function requires methods to interrupt lymph flow.
- Afferent lymphatic vessels to popliteal lymph nodes (pLNs) are the sole drainage routes.
Purpose of the Study:
- To describe a method for selectively interrupting lymph flow to pLNs.
- To enable the study of lymphatic vessel roles in immune microenvironments.
- To investigate lymph's impact on lymph node structures and function.
Main Methods:
- Suturing afferent lymphatic vessels from the murine footpad to pLNs.
- Selectively preventing lymph drainage into pLNs.
- Minimizing damage to lymphatic endothelial cells and vessels.
Main Results:
- The method effectively interrupts lymph flow to pLNs.
- Allows investigation of lymph's role in high endothelial venules (HEV) and chemokine expression.
- Facilitates study of lymph transport in surrounding adipose tissue.
Conclusions:
- Suturing afferent lymphatics is a valuable technique for studying lymphatic vessel function.
- This method supports research into lymphatic regulation of the lymph node microenvironment.
- Broader applications exist for unraveling lymphatic roles in immune responses.
