The Discovery Of The Lymphatic Stomata And Its Lymphatic Absorption In Mouse Ovary Bursa

Background Lymphatic stomata are small openings of lymphatic capillary. In 1863, von Recklinghausen thought there were some pores existing among the adjoining mesothelium and name them as the peritoneal lymphatic stomata. Since Tsilibary(1977) observed the lymphatic stomata in the diaphragm peritoneum of mouse for the first time under the electron microscopy, Li(1991) have reported that there are existed the lymphatic stomata in the diaphragm peritoneum of human and studied its function. Li considered that the stomata had the function of absorption and immunity in the peritoneal cavity,could be regulated in some conditions as well. Besides, some people reported the lymphatic stomata also existed in some other places of human and various animals, such as the hepatic ligamentum falciforme (Tesch et al, 1990) and meninges in human (Li, 1996), pericardial membrane in frog (Li, 2000) , pleura in human( Li, 1993) and rabbit (Li and Li, 2003) and so on.The ovarian mesenteries are defined as the peritoneum connecting the ovary with the broad ligament. It has obvious difference in structure varying in species. Inthe majority of rodents, the ovarian mesenteries develop extensively into a capsule enclosing the ovary, which called ovary bursa; While in primates and human, the ovary mesenteries are almost absent. Shinohara (1985) first reported the lymphatic stomata in the inner layer of ovary bursa in golden hamster, and recognized drainage of tracers via the lymphatic stomata. Subsequently, Sui and Li (Sui and Li, 2001a,b) observed the lymphatic stomata in ovary bursa of guinea pig and human's ovary, and considered the stomata is a kind of passageway which connect ovarian lymphatic system with the peritoneal cavity and be concerned with lymph drainage. They also thought the structure and development of the ovary bursa were corresponding with its oviduct development and procreative feature. Mouse is the most common experimental rodents, but there was no report about its lymphatic stomata of ovary bursa. In this paper, we observed the ovary bursa of mouse with scanning electron microscope (SEM) and transmission electron microscope (TEM), studied its ultrastructure and function if the lymphatic stomata exist on the ovary and discussed its significance of reproductive physiology.Objective (1) To study the presence of ovary bursa in mice and the lymphatic stomata of ovary bursa. (2) To study the absorption of the lymphatic stomata of ovary bursa. (3) To study the influence on the lymphatic stomata of ovary bursa by treating with hormone.Methods (1) in mice were examined with the scanning electron microscope(SEM) and the transmission electron microscope(TEM). And the lymphatic stomata werecounted by Elescope computer image processing system. (2) Absorption of lymphatic stomata were studied by tracer absorption test with change of time and hormone. (3) Being regulated by estrogen and androgen, the ovary bursa were observed with SEM and TEM.Results (1) The anatomy of ovary bursa in mice: The ovary bursa lied on the uterus cornu, below the kidney, next to the back abdomen wall and the rest abutting the intestines. The ovary bursa was joined to the uterus cornu by the oviduct, the ovary busa surrounded the ovary and formed an complete closed capsule. (2) The ultrastructure of ovary bursa in mice: There were two kinds of the mesothelial cells on the ovary bursa: the cuboidal and the flattened mesothelial cells, they interveined each. The lymphatic stomata were dispersed or clustered among the cuboidal cells, sporadically among the flattened cells. The stomata were smooth and clear, and irregular in shape, about 3.636±0.959 μm in diameter and 10.919±1.740 μm in perimeter. Granules and might be observed via the stomata with SEM. Under TEM, the ovary bursa was a membrane of 30 μm in thick, made of two stratum of the mesothelial cells and middle connective tissue. In the connective tissue, we could observe lymphatic vessel and blood vessel. The processes of the mesothelial cell formed the stomata. (3) The absorptive function of lymphat...