Cells Containing Birbeck Granules in the Lymph and the Lymph Node

The lymph node is composed of functionally different compartments, each with a characteristic type of macrophage. In the marginal zone the plasmacell reaction is induced, in the germinal centre the memory B-cells are generated and in the paracortex recirculating T-cells are stimulated in thymus dependent humoral responses and in cell mediated responses. In normal lymph nodes, the reticulum and endothelial cells composing the stroma of these areas, are clearly distinguished from the macrophages and the lymphocytes (Hoefsmit 1975). Marginal zone macrophages, tingible body macrophages (TBM) and interdigitating cells (IDC) seem to differ in functional activity only.