Hidden corpuscular structures floating inside blood vessels of mammalians.

We found the corpuscular structures inside blood vessels of mice, rats and rabbits using two simple methods. In situ they look like blood coagulations caused by operation. However, by means of confocal laser scanning microscopy, we found that they have several kinds of cells as well as many erythrocytes. The existence of the different kinds of cells from blood cells implies that this corpuscular structures are distinct from blood coagulate ones. This corpuscular structure may be the same one as intravascular Bonghan corpuscle claimed by Bonghan Kim in 1960s. In terms of his claims intravascular Bonghan corpuscle has hematopoiesis locally not depending on hematopoietic organs such as bone marrow. Therefore, one of further studies should be focused on the hematopoietic function of the novel corpuscular structures related with hematopoietic stem cells. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]