[Microstructural characteristics of lymphatic vessels in skin tissues of acupoints "Taichong" and "Yongquan" in the rat].

To provide a new method for investigating the histological characteristics of acupoints by obser-ving the microstructure of the lymphatic vessels in the skin tissue of "Taichong" (LR3) and "Yongquan" (KI1) regions.Six male SD rats were used in the present study. The skin tissue of LR3 and KI1 from the hind foot were taken following transcardial perfusion with 4% paraformaldehyde. The skin tissues were cut into sagittal sections with a freezing microtome and stained by fluorescent immunohistochemistry with lymphatic vessel endothelial hyaluronan receptor 1 (LYVE-1), calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), and phalloidin for displaying the lymphatic vessels, nerve fibers, and blood vessels, separately. The samples were viewed and recorded using fluorescent microscope and laser scanning confocal microscope.In the skin tissue of LR3 and KI1 regions, the lymphatic vessels, nerve fibers, and blood vessels were labeled with LYVE-1, CGRP and phalloidin, respectively. The lymphatic capillaries were found to start from the enlarged blind end and distribute in the dermis and subcutaneous tissues with various forms, crisscrossing. Abundant blood capillaries at various thickness distributed around the lymphatic capillaries in a parallel or crossed pattern, intermingled with free nerve fibers.The lymphatic capillaries, blood capillaries and nerve fibers extensively distribute in the skin tissues of LR3 and KI1 regions in rats, suggesting an involvement of the immunomodulation in the effects of acupuncture in pathological conditions, despite being not limited to the acupoint regions in the distribution of lymphatic capillaries.目的：通过观察大鼠“太冲”“涌泉”穴皮肤组织中淋巴管的显微结构，探讨研究腧穴相关组织学特征的新方法。方法：将正常SD大鼠经4%多聚甲醛心脏灌流固定后，取下包含“太冲”和“涌泉”在内的5 mm×3 mm皮肤组织并进行后固定和脱水，用冰冻切片机制成30 μm厚的矢状或平展组织切片，再以淋巴管内皮透明质酸酶受体1(LYVE-1)、鬼笔环肽(phalloidin)和降钙素基因相关肽(CGRP)对组织切片中的淋巴管、血管和神经纤维进行荧光免疫组织化学标记，最后使用荧光显微镜以及激光共聚焦显微镜对组织标本进行观察和记录。结果：在“太冲”和“涌泉”的皮肤组织中，标记的毛细淋巴管、毛细血管和神经纤维结构清晰，三者对比鲜明。其中毛细淋巴管起始于膨大的盲端，以多种形态分布在真皮和皮下组织，纵横交错；毛细淋巴管周围分布着大量粗细不等的毛细血管，与其伴行或交叉而过，在毛细淋巴管和毛细血管之间有游离的神经纤维分布。结论：本研究从组织学角度表明毛细淋巴管与周围的毛细血管和神经纤维一起广泛分布在“太冲”和“涌泉”的皮肤组织中。虽然毛细淋巴管的分布并不局限在穴区，但为以后进一步研究针灸可能通过穴区存在的毛细淋巴管来发挥免疫调节作用提供了组织结构依据。.