A Method for the Observation of the Primo Vascular System in the Thoracic Duct of a Rat

Figure 1

Anatomical location of the primo vascular system (PVS) in the thoracic duct of a rat. (a) Schematic anatomical view of the rat. Large-caliber lymph vessels are depicted with green curves and large arteries and veins with red and blue curves, respectively. (b) Stereomicroscopic image of the thoracic duct indicated with arrows. (c) Magnified view showing the primo vessel (PVS, open arrow) in the thoracic duct (arrow and two dotted lines). (d) Another magnified view showing branched primo vessels (arrow heads) in the thoracic duct (arrows). (e) Stereomicroscopic image of the left renal node (arrows) under the diaphragm. This is the injection site which became blue due to Alcian blue. The colors of panels (b) and (e) are different because (b) was taken after NBF fixing of the euthanized rat, while (e) was taken in vivo immediately after injection.