Emperipolesis of lymphoid cells in vagal efferent neurons following an intraneural injection of ricin into the vagus nerve in rats

Abstract

Injection of a minute amount of the toxic lectin, Ricinus communis agglutinin-60 (RCA-60) into the vagus nerve resulted in a selective destruction of the vagal efferent neurons in the ipsilateral dorsal motor nucleus (DMN). This has elicited a massive influx of mononuclear leucocytes, notably macrophages and T-lymphocytes, as detected with ED-1 and OX-19 antibodies, respectively. A small number of B-lymphocytes as identified by OX-33 antibody, were also observed in the neuropil of DMN. The influx of mononuclear leucocytes into the neuropil of DMN was by way of diapedesis, peaking in frequency at 4–6 days after the RCA administration. The infiltrated lymphocytes were closely associated with or penetrated the soma of the vagal neurons, some bearing intact axo-somatic synaptic contacts. The entrapped lymphocytes in neurons underwent degeneration and subsequently disintegrated. Macrophages and plasma cells in the neuropil did not appear to penetrate the neuronal soma. It is concluded that emperipolesis of lymphocytes, presumably cytotoxic T-cells, in RCA-poisoned neurons may represent a form of effector-target cell contact leading to cytotoxicity. In doing so, however, the invading lymphocytes were destroyed by the contents of RCA picked up by the neurons. The absence of macrophages and plasma cells in the RCA-poisoned neurons suggests the cellular specificity of emperipolesis.