Weibel-Palade bodies and lymphatic endothelium: observations in the lymphatic vessels of normal and inflamed human dental pulps.

The Weibel-Palade bodies, cytoplasmic organelles characterizing endothelial cells, are abundant in lymphatic capillary endothelium of human dental pulp. Their number almost double in the lymphatic vessels of inflamed dental pulps. The data were discussed and compared with others concerning the demonstration of the presence of von Willebrand factor and P-selectin in the Weibel-Palade bodies of lymphatic vessels in mesentery. It is suggested that the increase in the number of Weibel-Palade bodies observed in dental pulp may be connected along with those in the lymphatic vessels to the function that these adhesive molecules play during inflammatory states.