Peritoneal cell labelling: a study on the migration of macrophages and dendritic cells towards the gut

In this study the migration of peritoneal cells was investigated by a fluorescence labelling technique. We found that peritoneal cells migrate to the subcapsular sinus and medulla of the parathymic lymph node (PTLN) and paratracheal lymph node (PTrLN). It was also observed that fluorescence labelled cells possibly granulocytes, macrophages and dendritic cells were found in the B cell follicles of Peyer patches and the dome area after intraperitoneal (ip) labelling. The implication of the migration of antigen presenting cells to the gut on the mucosal immune response is discussed.