Morphologic Studies of Intrapulmonary Airway Mucosa-associated Lymphoid Tissues in Swine

Morphologic structures of the lymphoid tissues associated with the mucosa of the respiratory tract in swine aged 11 to 13 weeks were studied by dissecting, light, and transmission electron microscopy. Tissues along the respiratory tract were collected for further examination. Light microscopic examination showed that the lymphoid tissues were associated with bronchi (8.38%), bronchioles (81.63%), and respiratory bronchioles (9.98%). The lymphoid tissues were identified at different levels of the airways and were designated intrapulmonary airway mucosa-associated lymphoid tissues. Anatomically, the lymphoid tissues were found mostly in the bronchiolar bifurcations, with an arteriole frequently nearby. Histologically, the lymphoid tissues contained a single dome-shaped lymphoid follicle, which bulged out from the mucosal surface into the airway, where it was covered along the mucosal side by a layer of specialized epithelium. Ultrastructurally, the mucosal surface of the specialized epithelial cells was equipped with microfolds or cytoplasmic projections instead of cilia. The cytoplasm was elongated, and therefore much thinner than that of ordinary epithelial cells. Many lymphocytes were found scattered in the mucosal epithelium between or beneath the specialized epithelial cells. This structure was similar to that seen in the Peyer's patches of the small intestine in swine and other animals.