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Lymphodynamic Properties Governing Sentinel Lymph Nodes

From the First Department of Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine and Institute of Organ Transplants, Reconstructive Medicine and Tissue Engineering, Matsumoto, Japan.

Correspondence: Address correspondence and reprint requests to: Toshio Ohhashi, MD, The First Department of Physiology, Shinshu University School of Medicine, 3-1-1 Asahi, Matsumoto 390–8621, Japan; Fax: 81-263-36-5149; E-mail: ohhashi{at}sch.md.shinshu-u.ac.jp

ABSTRACT

Biological properties of lymph microvessels include characteristics of spontaneous contractions of lymph vessels, nitric oxide (NO)-mediated modulation of active lymph pump activity, flow-induced production and release of NO from lymphatic endothelial cells, and localization of NO synthase in cultured lymphatic endothelial cells. B16-BL6 melanoma cells release factors that inhibit active pump activity in isolated lymph microvessels. We have found that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) induces significant proliferation and migration of canine cultured lymphatic endothelial cells. This growth factor facilitates the formation of capillary-like tubes by the cultured endothelial cells.

Key Words: Carcinoma cells • Flow stimulation • Lymph vessel • Lymphangiogenesis • Lymphatic endothelial cell • Nitric oxide