The structural framework of the conduit system is grossly intact in <i>L. donovani</i>-infected polynutrient deficient mice.

<p>Characterization of the conduit network by immunohistochemistry, reticulin stain and transmission EM in lymph nodes of well-nourished (WN) and polynutrient deficient (PND) mice 3 days after <i>L. donovani</i> infection. (A) Immunofluorescence microscopy for various components of the extracellular matrix and reticular fibers on consecutive popliteal lymph node cryosections. 20× magnification for ER-TR7 (FRC) and alpha smooth muscle and 10× magnification for all the other images. (B) Light microscopic analysis of reticular fibers visualized with the reticulin stain of paraffin embedded popliteal lymph node sections. 40× magnification. (C) Transmission electron micrographs of LN conduits in the subcortical region (upper panels; scale bar is 100 nm), arrows point to the basement membranes surrounding the conduit system, and LN conduits near the subcapsular region (lower panels; scale bar is 100 nm), arrows point to the collagen strands. (D) Quantification (mean+SEM) of pixels of each component of conduit network as a proportion of lymph node area. (E) Quantification (mean+SEM) of the length and width of the reticular fibers measured in paraffin embedded lymph node sections stained with reticulin stain. Data are from one experiment with 5 mice per group (A, D) and 4 mice per group (B, C, E). There were no statistically significant differences between WN and PND groups in panels D and E.