ELECTRON MICROSCOPIC STUDIES ON THE PERITONEAL RESORPTION OF INTRAPERITONEALLY INJECTED LATEX PARTICLES VIA THE DIAPHRAGMATIC LYMPHATICS

Abstract

Intraperitoneally injected latex particles with a diameter
of I ,I µ are resorbed via the subperitoneal
diaphragmatic lymphatics. The latex particles
enter the lymphatics by stomata. These are formed
by simultaneous intracellular gaps between neighbouring
mesothelial and endothelial cells in the
tissue barrier, between the lumen of the lymph
vessels and the peritoneal cavity. A transcellular
passage (cytopempsis) does not occur. Stomata
occur where collagenous fibres and a submesothelial
basement membrane are absent. Due to the
complete absence of collagenous fibres in the area
of the stromata particles smaller than the diameter
of the stomata may be resorbed easily.