Labyrinthine structure of arterial terminals in the human spleen, with special reference to "closed circulation". A scanning electron microscope study.

Kashimura, Masamichi

doi:10.1679/aohc.48.279

Cited by 12 publications

(5 citation statements)

References 23 publications

(17 reference statements)

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“…We cannot exclude that there are specialized regions in the splenic red pulp where anastomoses between capillaries and sinuses exist. In one of the three spleens investigated, we found areas of highly branched capillaries and sinuses, which may correspond to the arterial labyrinth with anastomoses described by Kashimura (1985) in a SEM study. The arrangement of the microvessels in these regions differed conspicuously from the other parts of the red pulp, which had a rather regular distribution of capillaries and veins.…”

Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

The Open Microcirculation in Human Spleens

Steiniger

Bette

Schwarzbach

2011

J Histochem Cytochem.

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It has long been debated whether the red pulp of human spleens harbors an open or a closed microcirculation or both. To solve this issue, the authors differentially stained the endothelium in red pulp arterial microvessels and in venous sinuses using brightfield and fluorescence immunohistology with reagents against CD34 and CD141. Three-dimensional models of red pulp arterial microvessels and sinuses were derived from serial double-stained paraffin sections with the help of license-free open-access software. In each model, arterial microvascular ends were traced and verified by reference to the original serial sections. In total, 142 ends were analyzed in the specimens of three individuals. None of these ends was connected to a sinus, suggesting that the human splenic red pulp harbors an entirely open circulatory system. Thus, the spleen is the only human organ where blood passes through spaces not lined by endothelia or other barrier-forming cells.

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Section: Discussionsupporting

confidence: 63%

The Open Microcirculation in Human Spleens

Steiniger

Bette

Schwarzbach

2011

J Histochem Cytochem.

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“…Both types of circulation were also confirmed in several subhuman animals such as dogs (Alexandre-Pires et al 2003) or rats (Su et al 1991). Kashimura (1985) demonstrated the presence of closed circulation in humans by the finding of continuous transition of the flat endothelium of arterioles into endothelium of grilled appearance of the vascular sinuses. However, in humans, the open circulation prevails, i.e.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…From sinuses the blood runs into veins of the red pulp, from there to trabecular veins to vena lienalis. The open system of the blood circulation prevails in the human spleen, while the smaller part runs in the closed system Brozman & Jakubovský 1989;Kashimura 1985;Schmidt et al 1988). Kashimura & Shibata (1989) described even three types of spleen circulation with different functions.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ultrastructure of human spleen in transmission and scanning electron microscope

2009

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Despite new information concerning functional morphology of spleen, there are still some inaccuracies mostly regarding the spleen blood circulation. Billroth's (splenic) cords are formed from three-dimensional network of fibroblastic reticular cells located among branched sinuses. Results from our study using scanning electron microscopy confirm an intimate contact between adjacent reticular cells and erythrocytes. Arterial terminals can be observed in the Billroth's cords. The wall of sinuses reminds a sieve and it is lined with a special type of endothelium. In electron microscope, endothelial cells look like rods oriented parallel to the longitudinal axis of sinuses. Based on our observations fibroblastic reticular cells change to fixed phagocytes under no circumstances, hence they do not participate in phagocytosis. They may have a recognition function for cells circulating around them. According to our opinion, the open and the closed blood circulation are present in the human spleen simultaneously. Blood flowing in the closed circulation can help "absorption" of extra-vascular liquid and the blood elements into the vascular lumen. Due to sporadic occurrence of smooth muscle cells in the capsule and trabeculae, we assume that human spleen is not a blood reservoir, unlike the spleen in some other animals.

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“…Our study represents the Wrst immunohistological deWnition of human red pulp capillaries. Previous studies using scanning electron microscopy and/or corrosion casts have revealed, that capillaries are present in the human splenic red pulp, but their relationship to arterioles and red pulp sinuses has remained controversial (Barnhart et al 1976;Kashimura 1985;Takubo et al 1986). The same is also true for animal spleens (Suzuki et al 1977).…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Phenotypic differences between red pulp capillary and sinusoidal endothelia help localizing the open splenic circulation in humans

Steiniger

Stachniss

Schwarzbach

et al. 2007

Histochem Cell Biol

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The distribution of capillaries, sinuses and larger vessels was investigated by immunohistology in paraffin sections of 12 adult human spleens using a panel of antibodies. Double staining for CD34 and CD141 (thrombomodulin) revealed that capillary endothelia in the cords of the splenic red pulp and at the surface of follicles were CD34(+)CD141(-), while red pulp sinus endothelia had the phenotype CD34(-)CD141(+). Only in the direct vicinity of splenic follicles did sinus endothelial cells exhibit both antigens. Thus, splenic sinuses do not replace conventional capillaries, but exist in addition to such vessels. The endothelium in arterioles, venules and larger arteries and veins was uniformly CD34(+)CD141(+). Anti-CD34 and anti-CD141 both additionally reacted with different types of splenic stromal cells. Differential staining of capillaries and sinuses may permit a three-dimensional reconstruction of serial sections to unequivocally delineate the "open" and "closed" splenic circulation in humans.

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Labyrinthine structure of arterial terminals in the human spleen, with special reference to "closed circulation". A scanning electron microscope study.

Cited by 12 publications

References 23 publications

The Open Microcirculation in Human Spleens

The Open Microcirculation in Human Spleens

Ultrastructure of human spleen in transmission and scanning electron microscope

Phenotypic differences between red pulp capillary and sinusoidal endothelia help localizing the open splenic circulation in humans

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