Electron microscopic study of the paracortical postcapillary "high endothelial venules" in lymph nodes of the normal...

The structure of the postcapillary "high endothelial venules" (HEV) of lymph nodes in calves was studied light and electron microscopically. These venules were detected light microscopically in the paracortical zone by their high cuboidal endothelium, a distinct basal lamina, the migration of lymphocytes through the vessel wall, and the dominance of lymphoid cells in the lumen, often completely obliterating the latter. Ultrastructurally, the endothelial cells (HEC) of the HEV were characterized by a prominent Golgi complex including many small vesicles, a few lysosome-like bodies, and a specific association between mitochondria and rough endoplasmic reticulum (MER). The HEC are connected by desmosomes, whereas the intimate contact points between migrating lymphocytes and endothelial cells could not be classified according to the well-defined junctional types. Lymphocyte migration occurred predominantly intercellularly, i.e., between endothelial cells. Although the overall appearance of the described vessel type in bovines bears resemblance to HEV in other investigated species, several differences occur that most probably are related to species variation.