Organization of lymphoid tissue in the tonsilla lingualis. An ultrastructural study in Macaca fascicularis (Primates,...

Lymphoid organs are highly organized structures made up of different tissue compartments, each with its own specific cell populations. However, the cellular elements of the lingual tonsil, which forms a significant part of Waldeyer's pharyngeal ring, are not yet documented. This study, therefore, describes the fine structure and tissue organization of tonsilla lingualis in Macaca fascicularis. Ten selected crypto-lymphatic units originating from five perfusion-fixed animals were analysed ultrastructurally. Based on the fine-structural elements contained within, the lymphoid tissue of tonsillar units could be subdivided into follicular (germinal centre) and parafollicular areas. The latter contained predominantly small lymphocytes, lymphoblasts resembling T-blasts, plasma cells, macrophages, occasional neutrophils and many reticular cells resembling fibroblasts. A distinct feature of the parafollicular area was the presence of numerous high endothelial (HEV)- or postcapillary venules (PCV). The follicular areas contained many small and large lymphoid cells, mitotic cells, plasmablasts, macrophages and specialised reticular cells resembling follicular dendritic cells (FDC) with distinct desmosomal junctions. These observations show that the crypto-lymphatic units of the lingual tonsil are, in fact, organised into distinct B- and T-cell compartments with their own specific lymphoid and accessory cells.