Ultrastructure of normal rabbit mesentery.

The ultrastructure of the mesentery was examined by electron microscope (EM) after in vivo fixation in 7 normal rabbits. In 1, the fixation was performed after intravenous injection of an electron-dense tracer (iron dextran) and intraperitoneal infusion of dialysate 4.25% for 1 h. We studied morphometric data of what is considered to be the active peritoneal dialysis membrane, i.e. capillary endothelial cells, interstitium and mesothelial cells. The mesothelial cells are flattened and overlapping with tight junctions between them. They lie on a continuous basement membrane and they contain numerous intracytoplasmic vesicles, separated or in clusters. The mesenteric microvessels were mainly true capillaries of continuous type and postcapillary venules. Capillary lymphatics and larger lymphatic channels (lacunae) seem to be more extensive than the blood capillaries and venules. The endothelial cells contain many vesicles. The interstitium consists of bundles of collagen, fibroblasts and occasional macrophages. The electron-dense tracer was found in the vesicles of the mesothelial cells suggesting that vesicular transport may play an important part in the transportation of at least molecules of a certain size.