title: Species variation in the extrinsic lymphatic drainage of the rodent testis: its role within the context of an immunologically privileged site.
abstract: Earlier work suggested that the immunologically privileged site of the rat testis was associated with anomalous testicular lymph drainage whereby some lymphatic trunks bypassed regional lymph nodes and opened directly into the systemic blood circulation via the cisterna chyli and thoracic duct. Because other workers also noted the privileged status of the testes in untreated mice and guinea pigs, we opted to examine the nature of the testicular extrinsic lymphatic system in these rodents using the rat model for comparison. Contrary to expectation, there were no direct lymphatic-venous communications draining the testes of either guinea pigs or mice. Instead, testicular lymphatics drained into at least one lymph node before reaching the blood circulation. This disparity from testicular lymphatic drainage of the rat suggests that the immunologic privilege, if any, in mice and guinea pigs has an alternative explanation (e.g., lymphatic effect of steroidal factors emanating from the testicles or adrenal gland and altering the response to foreign graft).
authors.affiliation: Department of Clinical Pathology, College of Medicine, University of Lagos, Nigeria.
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Kazeem
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D006168:Guinea Pigs / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D051379:Mice / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D008808:Mice, Inbred CBA; D051381:Rats / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*; D013045:Species Specificity; D013737:Testis / Q000276:immunology / Q000502:physiology*