Abstract
Lymphoid and hematopoietic tissues are also called reticular tissues. Their architecture is sponge-like, supported by delicate reticular fibers and reticular cells. Transmission electron microscopes (TEM) have been not always powerful enough to elucidate the fine structure of these tissues. The application of scanning electron microscopes (SEM) has contributed much to elucidate the fine structure of reticular tissues and to settle controversial problems concerning these tissues. This chapter reviews the three-dimensional microfabric of reticular tissues by the use of SEM. It focuses on the relation of macrophages to reticular and endothelial cells and discusses Aschoff's reticuloendothelial system. On the basis of the SEM observations, the chapter reviews the three-dimensional microstructure of the spleen, lymph node, bone marrow, and liver. It focuses on the endothelial varieties in reticular tissues, such as those in splenic sinus, postcapillary venule, bone marrow sinus, and hepatic sinusoid. The SEM observations of reticular tissues indicate that macrophage is a morphologically independent cell and there are no transitional forms between the macrophage and reticular or endothelial cell. The reticular and endothelial cells provide a framework on which macrophage performs phagocytotic and immunological activities.
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