Effects of the adjuvant DEAE-dextran and Staphylococcus aureus on the lymph pathways and filtering capacity of popliteal lymph nodes in sheep

The effects of subcutaneous injections of the adjuvant DEAE-dextran and, or killed Staphylococcus aureus on the structure of the lymph pathways of popliteal lymph nodes in sheep were examined using light and electron microscopy and Microfil casts. Dextran with or without killed S aureus caused significant changes in the lymph pathways both within the node and outside it. However, killed S aureus alone did not. The changes included anastomoses among afferent lymph vessels and between afferent and efferent lymph vessels; proliferation of vessels around the node; joining of parts of the capsule and trabeculae to adjacent parenchyma with loss of parts of the subcapsular and trabecular sinuses; enlargement of medullary sinuses; and reduction of the number of reticular processes in sinuses throughout the node. These changes were accompanied by a reduced ability of the node to filter chicken red blood cells labelled with chromium-51 which were injected into an afferent lymph vessel.