Reticular fiber
Encyclopedia
Reticular fibers or reticulin is a histological
term used to describe a type of fiber in connective tissue
composed of type III collagen. Reticular fibers crosslink to form a fine meshwork (reticulin). This network acts as a supporting mesh in soft tissues such as liver
, bone marrow
, and the tissues and organs of the lymphatic system
.
Today, the term reticulin or reticular fiber is restricted to referring to fibers composed of type III collagen
. However, during the pre-molecular era, there was confusion in the use of the term 'reticulin', which was used to describe two structures:
The history of the reticulin silver stain is reviewed by Puchtler et al. (1978). The abstract of this paper says:
. These strands build a highly ordered cellular network and provide a supporting network. Many of these types of collagen have been combined with carbohydrate
. Thus, they react with silver stains and with periodic acid-Schiff
reagent but are not demonstrated with ordinary histological stains such as those using hematoxylin. The 1953 Science
article mentioned above concluded that the reticular and regular collagenous materials contains the same four sugars—galactose, glucose, mannose, and fucose—but in a much greater concentration in the reticular than in the collagenous material.
In a 1993 paper, the reticular fibers of the capillary sheath and splenic cord were studied and compared in the pig spleen by transmission electron microscopy
. This paper attempted to reveal their components and the presence of sialic acid in the amorphous ground substance. Collagen fibrils, elastic fibers, microfibrils, nerve fibers, and smooth muscle cells were observed in the reticular fibers of the splenic cord. On the other hand, only microfibrils were recognized in the reticular fibers of the capillary sheath. The binding of LFA lectin to the splenic cord was stronger than the capillary sheath. These findings suggested that the reticular fibers of the splenic cord include multiple functional elements and might perform an important role during contraction or dilation of the spleen. On the other hand, the reticular fiber of the capillary sheath resembled the basement membrane of the capillary in its components.
Because of their affinity for silver salts, these fibers are called argyrophilic.
Histology
Histology is the study of the microscopic anatomy of cells and tissues of plants and animals. It is performed by examining cells and tissues commonly by sectioning and staining; followed by examination under a light microscope or electron microscope...
term used to describe a type of fiber in connective tissue
Connective tissue
"Connective tissue" is a fibrous tissue. It is one of the four traditional classes of tissues . Connective Tissue is found throughout the body.In fact the whole framework of the skeleton and the different specialized connective tissues from the crown of the head to the toes determine the form of...
composed of type III collagen. Reticular fibers crosslink to form a fine meshwork (reticulin). This network acts as a supporting mesh in soft tissues such as liver
Liver
The liver is a vital organ present in vertebrates and some other animals. It has a wide range of functions, including detoxification, protein synthesis, and production of biochemicals necessary for digestion...
, bone marrow
Bone marrow
Bone marrow is the flexible tissue found in the interior of bones. In humans, bone marrow in large bones produces new blood cells. On average, bone marrow constitutes 4% of the total body mass of humans; in adults weighing 65 kg , bone marrow accounts for approximately 2.6 kg...
, and the tissues and organs of the lymphatic system
Lymphatic system
The lymphoid system is the part of the immune system comprising a network of conduits called lymphatic vessels that carry a clear fluid called lymph unidirectionally toward the heart. Lymphoid tissue is found in many organs, particularly the lymph nodes, and in the lymphoid follicles associated...
.
History
The term reticulin was coined in 1892 by M. Siegfried.Today, the term reticulin or reticular fiber is restricted to referring to fibers composed of type III collagen
Collagen
Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins found in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content...
. However, during the pre-molecular era, there was confusion in the use of the term 'reticulin', which was used to describe two structures:
- the argyrophilic (silver staining) fibrous structures present in basement membraneBasement membraneThe basement membrane is a thin sheet of fibers that underlies the epithelium, which lines the cavities and surfaces of organs including skin, or the endothelium, which lines the interior surface of blood vessels.- Composition :...
s - histologically similar fibers present in developing connective tissue.
The history of the reticulin silver stain is reviewed by Puchtler et al. (1978). The abstract of this paper says:
Maresch (1905) introduced Bielschowsky's silver impregnation technic for neurofibrils as a stain for reticulum fibers, but emphasized the nonspecificity of such procedures. This lack of specificity has been confirmed repeatedly. Yet, since the 1920's the definition of "reticulin" and studies of its distribution were based solely on silver impregnation technics. The chemical mechanism and specificity of this group of stains is obscure. Application of Gömöri's and Wilder's methods to human tissues showed variations of staining patterns with the fixatives and technics employed. Besides reticulum fibers, various other tissue structures, e.g. I bands of striated muscle, fibers in nervous tissues, and model substances, e.g. polysaccharides, egg white, gliadin, were also stained. Deposition of silver compounds on reticulum fibers was limited to an easily removable substance; the remaining collagen component did not bind silver. These histochemical studies indicate that silver impregnation technics for reticulum fibers have no chemical significance and cannot be considered as histochemical technics for "reticulin" or type III collagen.
Structure
Reticular fiber is composed of one or more types of very thin and delicately woven strands of type III collagenCollagen
Collagen is a group of naturally occurring proteins found in animals, especially in the flesh and connective tissues of mammals. It is the main component of connective tissue, and is the most abundant protein in mammals, making up about 25% to 35% of the whole-body protein content...
. These strands build a highly ordered cellular network and provide a supporting network. Many of these types of collagen have been combined with carbohydrate
Carbohydrate
A carbohydrate is an organic compound with the empirical formula ; that is, consists only of carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen, with a hydrogen:oxygen atom ratio of 2:1 . However, there are exceptions to this. One common example would be deoxyribose, a component of DNA, which has the empirical...
. Thus, they react with silver stains and with periodic acid-Schiff
Periodic acid-Schiff
Periodic acid-Schiff is a staining method used to detect glycogen and other polysaccharides in tissues. The reaction of periodic acid oxidizes the diol functional groups in glucose and other sugars, creating aldehydes that react with the Schiff reagent to give a purple-magenta color...
reagent but are not demonstrated with ordinary histological stains such as those using hematoxylin. The 1953 Science
Science (journal)
Science is the academic journal of the American Association for the Advancement of Science and is one of the world's top scientific journals....
article mentioned above concluded that the reticular and regular collagenous materials contains the same four sugars—galactose, glucose, mannose, and fucose—but in a much greater concentration in the reticular than in the collagenous material.
In a 1993 paper, the reticular fibers of the capillary sheath and splenic cord were studied and compared in the pig spleen by transmission electron microscopy
Transmission electron microscopy
Transmission electron microscopy is a microscopy technique whereby a beam of electrons is transmitted through an ultra thin specimen, interacting with the specimen as it passes through...
. This paper attempted to reveal their components and the presence of sialic acid in the amorphous ground substance. Collagen fibrils, elastic fibers, microfibrils, nerve fibers, and smooth muscle cells were observed in the reticular fibers of the splenic cord. On the other hand, only microfibrils were recognized in the reticular fibers of the capillary sheath. The binding of LFA lectin to the splenic cord was stronger than the capillary sheath. These findings suggested that the reticular fibers of the splenic cord include multiple functional elements and might perform an important role during contraction or dilation of the spleen. On the other hand, the reticular fiber of the capillary sheath resembled the basement membrane of the capillary in its components.
Because of their affinity for silver salts, these fibers are called argyrophilic.