Sympathetic Innervation of Lymph Nodes in Mice

Noradrenergic innervation of popliteal and mesenteric lymph nodes in mice was examined with fluorescence histochemistry. Dense varicose plexuses entered the nodes with the vasculature in the hilar region and continued with the vasculature into the medullary region. Fine, delicate varicosities and small vascular plexuses continued into the cortical and paracortical regions surrounding the germinal centers; some varicosities ended among lymphocytes. A subcapsular plexus contributed fibers into the cortical and paracortical regions. Chemical measurements revealed the presence of norepinephrine in lymph nodes that was depletable with 6-hydroxydopamine. Depletion of norepinephrine from lymph nodes with this agent resulted in a diminished primary immune response in draining lymph nodes following subcutaneous injection of an antigen in two mouse strains, but had no effect in two other strains. These findings suggest that noradrenergic fibers innervate both the vasculature and parenchymal regions of lymph nodes, and may participate in the modulation of immune responses in these organs.