Biomaterial Database

Lymphatic innervation. 1990

N G McHale

School of Basic Medical Sciences, Queen's University, Belfast, Northern Ireland.

Bovine mesenteric lymphatic vessels have nerves in their walls which in response to field stimulation cause an increase in frequency of spontaneous lymphatic contractions and this could be blocked by alpha-antagonists. When vessels were loaded with [3H]-noradrenaline, 3H-efflux was increased in response to field stimulation and this was potentiated by alpha 2-antagonists and depressed by alpha 2-agonists. Electrical activity in these vessels consisted of a single action potential which preceded each contraction. Mean resting potential was -61 mV +/- 5.7 (SD). Stimulation of postsynaptic alpha-receptors caused a depolarization accompanied by a decrease in membrane conductance while beta-receptor stimulation had the opposite effect. Lymphatic noradrenergic nerves appear to have a role in the living animal since stimulation of the sympathetic chain in anaesthetized sheep increased popliteal efferent lymph flow and this could be blocked by alpha-adrenergic blockers.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D007473	Ion Channels	Gated, ion-selective glycoproteins that traverse membranes. The stimulus for ION CHANNEL GATING can be due to a variety of stimuli such as LIGANDS, a TRANSMEMBRANE POTENTIAL DIFFERENCE, mechanical deformation or through INTRACELLULAR SIGNALING PEPTIDES AND PROTEINS.	Membrane Channels,Ion Channel,Ionic Channel,Ionic Channels,Membrane Channel,Channel, Ion,Channel, Ionic,Channel, Membrane,Channels, Ion,Channels, Ionic,Channels, Membrane
D008208	Lymphatic System	A system of organs and tissues that process and transport immune cells and LYMPH.	Lymphatic Systems
D009130	Muscle, Smooth	Unstriated and unstriped muscle, one of the muscles of the internal organs, blood vessels, hair follicles, etc. Contractile elements are elongated, usually spindle-shaped cells with centrally located nuclei. Smooth muscle fibers are bound together into sheets or bundles by reticular fibers and frequently elastic nets are also abundant. (From Stedman, 25th ed)	Muscle, Involuntary,Smooth Muscle,Involuntary Muscle,Involuntary Muscles,Muscles, Involuntary,Muscles, Smooth,Smooth Muscles
D012018	Reflex	An involuntary movement or exercise of function in a part, excited in response to a stimulus applied to the periphery and transmitted to the brain or spinal cord.
D000818	Animals	Unicellular or multicellular, heterotrophic organisms, that have sensation and the power of voluntary movement. Under the older five kingdom paradigm, Animalia was one of the kingdoms. Under the modern three domain model, Animalia represents one of the many groups in the domain EUKARYOTA.	Animal,Metazoa,Animalia
D013564	Sympathetic Nervous System	The thoracolumbar division of the autonomic nervous system. Sympathetic preganglionic fibers originate in neurons of the intermediolateral column of the spinal cord and project to the paravertebral and prevertebral ganglia, which in turn project to target organs. The sympathetic nervous system mediates the body's response to stressful situations, i.e., the fight or flight reactions. It often acts reciprocally to the parasympathetic system.	Nervous System, Sympathetic,Nervous Systems, Sympathetic,Sympathetic Nervous Systems,System, Sympathetic Nervous,Systems, Sympathetic Nervous
D014316	Tritium	The radioactive isotope of hydrogen also known as hydrogen-3. It contains two NEUTRONS and one PROTON in its nucleus and decays to produce low energy BETA PARTICLES.	Hydrogen-3,Hydrogen 3