Fig. 3From: Lymphatic muscle cells contribute to dysfunction of the synovial lymphatic system in inflammatory arthritis in miceThe degenerative and apoptotic appearance of lymphatic muscle cells on the lymphatic vessels that drain arthritic joints of TNF-Tg mice with severe arthritis. Collecting LVs efferent foot area and adjacent blood vessels from 5- to 11-month-old TNF-Tg mice and WT littermates were subjected to electron microscopy. n = 3 mice/group. Representative images are shown. a An LV wall from a WT mouse, containing a lymphatic endothelial cell, lymphatic muscle cell, and empty lumen. b, c An LV wall from a TNF-Tg mouse showing contracted and smaller lymphatic muscle cells with condensed nuclear chromosome or apoptotic appearance (arrows). d A blood vessel wall from a WT mouse containing a blood endothelial cell, smooth muscle cells, and red blood cells in the lumen. e A blood vessel wall from a TNF-Tg mouse showing a smaller smooth muscle cell with nucleus condensation (arrow). EC, endothelial cell; MC, muscle cell; L, lumen; R, red blood cell. Bars are 2 μmBack to article page