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Updated: Aug 12, 2026
Dissection and 2-Photon Imaging of Peripheral Lymph Nodes in Mice
Published on: August 23, 2007
Stromal cell organisation in the mouse lymph node. A light and electron microscopic investigation using the zinc
1Department of Medical and Morphological Research, University of Udine, Italy.
Insights
Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) form a complex network within mouse lymph nodes, interacting closely with various cell types and blood vessels. These interactions suggest FRCs play a key role in cell communication and molecule transport throughout the lymph node.
Area of Science:
- Immunology
- Cell Biology
- Microanatomy
Background:
- The stromal cell compartment is crucial for lymph node function.
- Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) are a major stromal cell population.
- Understanding FRC organization is key to lymph node physiology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the microanatomical organization of FRCs in mouse lymph nodes.
- To elucidate the spatial relationships between FRCs and other lymph node components.
- To explore the potential roles of FRCs in lymph node communication.
Main Methods:
- Light and electron microscopy.
- Zinc iodide-osmium (ZIO) tissue impregnation technique.
- Detailed morphological analysis of FRCs and their environment.
Main Results:
- FRCs are the predominant stromal cells in both cortical and medullary regions.
- FRCs exhibit diverse morphologies, from fusiform in the cortex to dendritic in the medulla.
- FRCs form a 3D network, ensheathing vascular structures and interacting with lymphocytes, endothelial cells, and dendritic cells.
Conclusions:
- FRCs are strategically positioned to facilitate communication between lymph node compartments.
- FRCs likely play a role in transporting molecules from sinuses to high endothelial venules and parenchyma.
- The microanatomical organization of FRCs supports their involvement in intercellular signaling within lymph nodes.
Abstract:
The organisation of the stromal cell compartment in the mouse lymph node was studied by light and electron microscopy after tissue impregnation by the zinc iodide-osmium (ZIO) method. Fibroblastic reticular cells (FRCs) represented the main stromal cell population. These cells were located both in the cortical region and in the medulla and exhibited various configurations. In the cortex, FRCs were fusiform in shape and came into close proximity with the floor of the subcapsular sinus. In the medulla, the FRCs were shaped like irregular dendritic cells which formed a complex 3-dimensional network. The FRCs surrounded vascular structures such as capillaries and/or high endothelial venules; in these instances they were organised in a discontinuous sheath-like fashion around the vessel wall. By light and electron microscopy, FRCs have been observed to come in close spatial relationship with a number of cells in the lymph node, including sinus endothelial cells, the endothelium of high endothelial venules and capillaries, various types of lymphocytes, follicular dendritic cells and interdigitating cells. These microanatomical features are consistent with the proposal that FRCs may be involved in the communicative networks between the different lymph node compartments. In particular, the FRCs may be involved in the transport of molecules from the sinus compartment to the high endothelial venules or to the distinct cell populations in the lymphoid parenchyma.
