title: Cytoplasmic bodies in lymphatic endothelial cell.
abstract: Although micropinocytotic vesicles and other large vesicular structures have been observed in lymphatic endothelial cells on electron microscopy, in this study ultrastructure attention was focused on a variety of other membrane-bounded structures in the cytoplasm of these cells in the rabbit heart. The first type was oval or round in transverse section and elongated in longitudinal section, was 100-200 nm in diameter and contained regularly spaced tubules. These features resembled rod-shaped bodies detected thus far only in blood vascular endothelial cells. A second type of cytoplasmic body was also frequently seen in lymphatic endothelium. It contained irregularly spaced small vesicles, 5-7 in number and 45 nm in diameter. A third type of vesiculated body was only occasionally found. This latter structure was greater than the previously described bodies and ranged from 3-5 micron in diameter, and filled with granular, inhomogeneous material and filamentous-like components. The functional significance of these intraendothelial bodies is as yet unexplained.
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000166:cytology; D003593:Cytoplasm / Q000648:ultrastructure; D003594:Cytoplasmic Granules / Q000145:classification / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D006325:Heart Atria / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D006352:Heart Ventricles / Q000166:cytology / Q000648:ultrastructure; D007425:Intracellular Membranes / Q000648:ultrastructure; D008208:Lymphatic System / Q000166:cytology*; D008297:Male; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D011817:Rabbits