lymphoid follicle

Sperical aggregates of lymphoid tissue located in the cortex or peripheral portion of lymph nodes. Upon antigenic stimulation, primary follicles enlarge & develop pale-staining germinal centers composed of follicular center cells. Surrounding the germinal centers are small, unchallenged B-cells. T-cells occupy the parafollicular regions. Normal antigen induced transformation of B-cells in germinal centers of lymphoid follicles: perifollicular lymphocyte -> small cleaved lymphocyte -> large cleaved lymphocyte -> small non-cleaved lymphocyte -> large non-cleaved lymphocyte -> immunoblast -> peripheral plasma cell & memory B-cells

Related

follicular center cell lymph node

References

Cotran et al Robbins Pathologic Basis of Disease, 5th ed. W.B. Saunders Co, Philadelphia, PA 1994 pg 629, 638