LIGHT AND SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY OF THE PORCINE MESOMETRIAL AND PARAOVARIAN LYMPHATIC NETWORKS

Abstract

Uterine lymphatics were examined in 38 pigs using light microscopy, stereomicroscopy, andscanning electron microscopy. Uterine lymphatics were initially filled with plastic materials:Microfil for stereomicroscopy, Mercox®-corrosion cast for scanning electron microscopy(SEM), and Micropaque for x-ray photographs. Lymph precollectors of the uterine horns formedtwo superficial layers, ventral and dorsal. At the level of the ovary, precollectors joined tobecome collector lymph vessels, which entered nearby lymph nodes. Among the lymph vesselsemanating from the uterus, there was a characteristic band of lymphatics that bordered on theisthmus of the oviduct. These passed toward the ovary to form the paraovarian lymphatic plexus.Segments of collector lymphatics were longer than precollectors, had thicker walls consisting ofendothelial cells, smooth muscle (uniformly forming a continuous band around lymphatics) andfibroblasts. Both precollector and collector lymphatics were covered and surrounded by a finenetwork of blood microvessels (vasa-vasorum) especially well seen in corrosion casts (SEM).