Gut-Associated Lymphoid Tissue - GALT
Small accumulations of lymphocytes or solitary lymph follicles are found scattered in beneath the epithelium throughout the gastrointestinal tract. However, the most prominent accumulations occur in the ileum and appendix in the form of Peyer's patches. In the ileum, they form dome-shaped protrusions into the lumen. Beneath the epithelial lining of the domes, Peyer's patches extend from the lamina propria to the submucosa. Within Peyer's patches, lymph follicles with germinal centers are typically located deep in the submucosa.
The epithelium in contact with the lymphoid tissue is specialised to facilitate the contact of antigens with cells of the immune system. The epithelium appears columnar and contains cells with deeply invaginated basal surfaces - microfold cells or M-cells. Immune system cells can enter these invaginations (intraepithelial pockets) where they are exposed to materials which have been endocytosed by the epithelial cells and then released into the invaginations. Goblet cells are rare or absent in the epithelium which covers the domes.
slides of appendix, ileum or Peyer's patches - H&E
Slides of the appendix and ileum may be useful is there is no specially prepared slide of Peyer's patches. Extensive areas of lymphoid tissue are alway present in the appendix, but domes and specialised sections of epithelium may not. If you have a slide of the ileum hold it against the light and see if parts of the wall look darker than the rest. These parts are likely to contain lymphoid tissue and may show domes and/or specialised sections of epithelium.
Slides of the appendix and ileum may be useful is there is no specially prepared slide of Peyer's patches. Extensive areas of lymphoid tissue are alway present in the appendix, but domes and specialised sections of epithelium may not. If you have a slide of the ileum hold it against the light and see if parts of the wall look darker than the rest. These parts are likely to contain lymphoid tissue and may show domes and/or specialised sections of epithelium.
Peyer's Patch, Ileum - H&E
If you hold the sections against a light surface the areas which are occupied by the lymphoid tissue should be readily visible - in H&E stained sections they appear darker than the remaining tissue. Look at these areas under the microscope. Identify the domes and their epithelial covering. The epithelium will be lower than the epithelium covering the villi and goblet cells are rare or absent. See if you can find intraepithelial pockets containing immune cells. Even if no clear pockets are present, some lymphocytes should appear scattered "over" the epithelium. In reality they will be located in the intraepithelial pockets. High-endothelial venules should be present in the lymphoid tissue beneath the domes but may be difficult to find. Next go further towards the submucosa and see if you can find lymph follicles.
Draw the epithelium covering the domes at high magnification. Include a scetch of the normal intestinal epithelium for comparison. Scetch the appearance of Peyer's patches at low magnification.
If you hold the sections against a light surface the areas which are occupied by the lymphoid tissue should be readily visible - in H&E stained sections they appear darker than the remaining tissue. Look at these areas under the microscope. Identify the domes and their epithelial covering. The epithelium will be lower than the epithelium covering the villi and goblet cells are rare or absent. See if you can find intraepithelial pockets containing immune cells. Even if no clear pockets are present, some lymphocytes should appear scattered "over" the epithelium. In reality they will be located in the intraepithelial pockets. High-endothelial venules should be present in the lymphoid tissue beneath the domes but may be difficult to find. Next go further towards the submucosa and see if you can find lymph follicles.
Draw the epithelium covering the domes at high magnification. Include a scetch of the normal intestinal epithelium for comparison. Scetch the appearance of Peyer's patches at low magnification.
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