Studies of the Lymphatic Tissue

Abstract

1. On subcutaneous infection of rabbits with staphylococci of low virulence there appears at the place of injection first a hemorrhagicpurulent inflammation and later a localized purulence. In the regional lymph nodes there is lymphatic hyperplasia, and in the blood a lymphocytosis. 2. In the regional lymph nodes there is first a regressive change of Flemming's secondary nodules and of transition forms. Then follows lymphatic hyperplasia, starting apparently from solid secondary nodules and progressing by way of pseudo-secondary nodules to a diffuse lymphoid hyperplasia. The increase of lymphocytes in the blood parallels this development. 3. Only after the highest point of the lymphocytosis has been reached or passed do we find the first Flemming's secondary nodules, which thereafter increase in number and size while the number of lymphocytes in the blood falls, and reach their maximum development when the number of lymphocytes in the blood is again normal. Therefore, the original conception of Flemming that the site of formation of the lymphocytes of the blood is in Flemming's secondary nodules, cannot be accepted. 4. The lymphocytes of the blood originate in the pseudo-secondary nodules as in embryonic life. The mother cells of the lymphocytes would appear to be Marchand's proliferating endothelial (reticular) cells.

Some Problems of Lymphocyte Production

“…The data of Kindred (1942) gave some quantitative indication of the extent of lymphocyte destruction in lymphoid tissue in the rat, although on balance this destruction was very much less than the new format ion. Ehrich (1929), Ehrich and Harris (1942), Harris et al (1945), and Ehrich et al (1949) attempted to correlate the histological appearances of the germinal centers with the degree of lymphocyte production as measured indirectly by the development of lymphocytosis, or directly by estimating the lymphocyte content of lymph draining a node. It was shown that, after the injection of typhoid vaccine into the pad of the rabbit's foot, the germinal renters underwent marked hypertrophy (Ehrich et al, 1949), and this finding was later confirmed by Ringertz and Adamson (1950).…”

The Induction of Lymphocytosis and Lymphatic Hyperplasia by Means of Parenterally Administered Protein

“…Since their work a considerable literature has accumulated on the blood changes after single parenteral injections of protein, confirmatory but adding very little to the original data. Ehrich (5) injected staphylococcus of low virulence subcutaneously and found a regional hyperplasia of the lymph nodes and some increase in lymphocytes in the peripheral blood. Injecting killed staphylococci intravenously (6), he obtained an increase in the number of circulating lymphocytes, which reached a maximum at about the 10th and 14th day, and then decreased to normal, although the injections were continued.…”