Lymph macrophages enter the germinal center of lymph nodes of guinea pigs.

To determine the fate of macrophages within the afferent lymph stream, the popliteal lymph nodes at various times (3 h to 6 months) after subcutaneous injection of india ink into the footpads of guinea pigs were examined. Two types of cells which had phagocytized india ink were observed in the germinal centers. A small number of type I phagocytes (engulfing india ink as small particles which were often found together with tingible bodies in their cytoplasm) were scattered through the germinal center. A large number of type II phagocytes (packed full of india ink) presented preferentially in the medullary portion of the germinal center, together with many pyroninophil lymphoblastoid cells. In the second experiment, the afferent lymphatics of the popliteal lymph node were ligated 15-20 min after india ink injection. Although the type I phagocytes were distributed as in the first experiment, the type II phagocytes were scanty. In the third experiment, the afferent lymphatics of the popliteal lymph node were ligated 7 days after india ink injection. The type II phagocytes disappeared rapidly from the germinal center, whereas the type I phagocytes remained and were not affected by ligature. These results suggest that the type I phagocytes are the fixed macrophages or tingible body macrophages in the germinal center, and that the type II phagocytes are the macrophages migrating from the peripheral tissues. It was also shown that many macrophages reaching the regional node via afferent lymphatics entered the germinal center through the medullary pole where the cap of small lymphocytes became thinner or disappeared.