Anat Cell Biol.  2024 Dec;57(4):598-604. 10.5115/acb.24.101.

The lymphatic drainage of the goat heart

• Ma CX
• Pan WR
• Liu ZA
• Li Y
• Zeng FQ

• KMID: 2562507
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.5115/acb.24.101

Abstract

The detailed knowledge of the morphological structure, drainage pathways and patterns, the first tier lymph node of the cardiac lymphatic and its relationship with the circulatory system has not yet been completed. Although, the cardiac lymphatics had been described with renewed interest in past years, which was attributed to the transparent nature of lymphatic vessels that are difficult to be observed. In this study, cardiac lymphatics of the goat heart were perfused by a direct microinjecting technique with a radiopaque mixture. This demonstrated the subepicardial and subendocardial lymph capillary networks communicating with transmyocardial lymph vessels and then entering to subepicardial collecting lymph vessels that were directed toward the atrio-ventricular sulcus where they form a confluence from which the main cardiac lymph channels. We also found that: 1) the quantity and caliber of collecting lymph vessels varied in each goat heart; 2) drainage patterns of lymph vessels in the goat heart were different in individuals; 3) the first tier lymph node that each major lymph vessel drained to was different; and 4) multiple lymphatic-venous anastomosis sites have been confirmed to exist in the subepicardium of the left and right ventricles of each goat heart, which may be the morphological structure to accelerate the return of intercellular fluid to the venous system during excessive exercise of the heart. Therefore, the information may provide reference for further study in physiological and pathological conditions of the human heart.

Keyword

Goats; Heart; Lymphatic vessel; Lymph nodes; Lymphovenous anastomosis

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Subepicardium lymphatics of the goat heart. (A) The relationship between subepicardium lymphatics (green vessels) and coronary blood vessels (red vessels) of the goat heart. (B) Each group of subepicardium lymphatics on the radiograph was painted with different colors. (C) The caliber of the subepicardium lymphatic was measured by a micrometer (M) under the surgical microscopy.

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  Fig. 2 The quantity and caliber of the lymph vessel in the subepicardium of the goat heart. (A) RVSLV of the goat heart, (B) LVSLV of the goat heart, (C) LASLV of the goat heart, and (D) AILV and PILV of the goat heart. RVSLV, right ventricular subepicardium lymph vessel; LVSLV, left ventricular subepicardium lymph vessel; LASLV, left atrial subepicardium lymph vessel; AILV, anterior interventricular lymph vessel; PILV, posterior interventricular lymph vessel.

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  Fig. 3 Distribution of the lymphatics in the goat heart. (A) Lymphatics in the subepicardium. (B) Lymphatic capillaries in the subepicardium. (C) Lymphatic capillaries in the subendocardium. Red arrowheads indicate sites that branches of lymphatic capillaries enter the myocardium. (D) The lymphatic vessel in the myocardium. Red arrows indicate the direction of the lymph flow. AA, arch aorta; T, trachea; BABLN, brachiocephalic arterial bifurcation lymph node; PTLN, para tracheal lymph node; RTBLN, right tracheal bronchial lymph node; BA, brachiocephalic artery.

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  Fig. 4 The relationship between subepicardial lymphatics and major cardiovascular vessels of the goat heart after lymphatics were injected by a radio-opaque mixture and major cardiovascular vessels were filled by a red poster color mixture. (A) Anterior view. (B) Posterior view. (C) Right side view. (D) Left side view. AA, arch aorta.

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  Fig. 5 The lymphatic drainage of the goat heart. (A) A radiograph of the goat heart after subepicardial lymphatics were injected by a radio-opaque mixture. (B) A photograph of the goat heart after subepicardial lymphatics were injected by a radio-opaque mixture. BABLN, brachiocephalic arterial bifurcation lymph node; RTBLN, right tracheal bronchial lymph node; LTBLN, left tracheal bronchial lymph node; PCLV, posterior coronary lymph vessel; RCLV, right coronary lymph vessel; LCLV, left coronary lymph vessel; CLV, circumflex lymph vessel; RVSLV, right ventricular subepicardium lymph vessel; LVSLV, left ventricular subepicardium lymph vessel; AILV, anterior interventricular lymph vessel; PILV, posterior interventricular lymph vessel; LASLV, left atrial subepicardium lymph vessel; PTLN, para tracheal lymph node; T, trachea; AA, arch aorta; BA, brachiocephalic artery.

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  Fig. 6 Subepicardial lymphatics of the goat heart. (A) Lymphatics in the subepicardium. A lymphatic ampulla is seen LA. Black arrows indicate preclecting lymph vessels; red arrows indicate the direction of the lymph flow. (B) The lymphatic-venous anastomosis site is seen in the subepicardium (indicating by a blue arrow). LC, lymphatic capillaries; LA, lymphatic ampulla; V, venule.

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  Fig. 7 Posterior view of subepicardial lymphatics of the goat heart. (A) PILV drains to CLV. (B) PILV drains to LTBLN via PCLV. (C) PILV drains to PTBLN (behind the adipose tissue) via PCLV. PILV, posterior interventricular lymph vessel; CLV, circumflex lymph vessel; LTBLN, left tracheal bronchial lymph node; PCLV, posterior coronary lymph vessel; PTBLN, posterior tracheal bifurcation lymph node.

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  Fig. 8 Lymphatics in the myocardium of the goat heart. (A) L is accompanied by a V. The lymphatic valve is seen (green arrow). Hematoxylin and eosin stain, scale bar: 20 µm. (B, C) L are accompanied by Ar and V. Both Ar and V contained blood cells. L, lymphatic vessel; V, vein; Ar, arteries.

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  Fig. 9 The lymphatic distribution of the heart. Adapted from [Anatomie, physiologie, pathologie des vaisseaux lymphatiques, considerés chez l’homme et chez les vertébrés]. Adrien Delahaye; 1874. French. [6].

Reference

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