Related Experiment Video
Updated: Aug 14, 2025
Blocking Lymph Flow by Suturing Afferent Lymphatic Vessels in Mice
Published on: May 14, 2020
Individual variation in and lateral asymmetry of mouse epididymal draining lymph nodes
Jing Peng1, Huixi Li1, Shaojun Yang2
1Andrology Center, Department of Urology, Peking University First Hospital, Peking University, Beijing, China.
Problem:
Draining lymph nodes (LNs) are pivotal sites for maintaining tolerance to self-antigens as well as eliciting immune responses to exogenous antigens. The epididymis is a male reproductive organ with a unique local immune environment. Although mice are the most commonly used laboratory animals for immunology research, there are no detailed descriptions of the anatomical location and function of LNs that drain the epididymis.
Method Of Study:
Evans blue labeling was utilized to explore lymphatic drainage of the epididymis in eight- to ten-week-old male C57BL/6 mice. We confirmed the lymphatic drainage of the epididymis in mice using the objective technique of carboxyfluorescein succinimidyl ester (CFSE)-labeled cells.
Results:
By combined Evans blue labeling and fluorescent labeling, we found that 1) the patterns of epididymal LN drainage are highly heterogeneous between individual mice; 2) the leftside LNs participate in drainage more frequently than the right-side LNs; and 3) epididymal lymphatic drainage bypasses both the paraaortic and renal LNs in some mice.
Conclusions:
These data highlighted the need to consider the individual variation in and lateral asymmetry of draining LNs when characterizing the regional immunology of the mouse epididymis.
Related Concept Videos
01:23Detailed Structure and Function of Lymph Nodes
From a histological perspective, lymph nodes can be split into two main areas: the superficial cortex and the deep medulla. The outer cortex is populated by dendritic cells, macrophages, and B lymphocytes, which are densely packed into follicles. When these B-lymphocytes are presented...
01:15Development of the Lymphatic System
The first lymph sacs to form are the paired jugular lymph sacs located at the junction of the internal jugular and subclavian veins. From these sacs, lymphatic capillary plexuses extend to the thorax, upper limbs, neck, and head, eventually forming lymphatic vessels. Each jugular lymph sac maintains a...