STRUCTURAL AND FUNCTIONAL PECULIARITIES OF THE OF INGUINAL LYMPH NODES AND LYMPH FLOW DURING AGING
The comparative experimental study of the lymph drainage and the structural organization of the inguinal lymph nodes (LN) was performed in 160 Wistar rats aged 3–5 and 12–15 months. Age-related changes in inguinal LN were demonstrated that were associated with the reduction of the medium LN and the directivity of lymph flow to the polar LN of the inguinal group. The aged animals showed the decelerated lymph flow and lymph passage through LN due to age-related LN transformation that included the development of the connective tissue, various degree of of structural and functional zone compaction, rarefication of the paracortical zone structure and reduced of lymphocytopoiesis in germinal centers. These findings indicate the development of a state of functional strain of LN with age.