A comparative study of cultured vascular and lymphatic endothelium.

There is comparatively little knowledge of the structure and function of cultured lymphatic endothelium. A study was carried out to compare the intrinsic growth characteristics of cultured lymphatic endothelial cells with cultured endothelial derived from blood vessels. It was found that cultured lymphatic endothelium has growth requirements and growth characteristics similar to vascular endothelium. It also possesses FVIIIRA and Weibel-Palade bodies for specific identification. The results of this study have provided important base line data for subsequent studies of the pathobiology of lymphatic endothelium.