MORPHOMETRIC FEATURES OF THE INGUINAL AND POPLITEAL LYMPH NODES IN WHITE OUTBRED RATS WITH EXPERIMENTAL RHEUMATOID ARTHRITIS

Rheumatoid arthritis is accompanied by systemic immunomorphological changes affecting peripheral lymph nodes. The aim of the study was a comparative assessment of morphometric parameters of the inguinal and popliteal lymph nodes in white outbred rats with experimental rheumatoid arthritis. The results demonstrated that the inguinal lymph nodes were characterized by more pronounced proliferative activity of lymphoid tissue, whereas the popliteal lymph nodes showed a relative enlargement of the medullary zone and stromal component. The obtained data reflect regional features of the immune response during the inflammatory process.