Author:
Hannah R. S.,Rosenquist T. H.
Abstract
Developing blood vessels in the rat central nervous system exhibit several unusual luminal features. Hannah (1975) used high voltage electron microscopy to demonstrate numerous ridges of endothelium, some near junctional complexes. The ridges produced troughs (which may appear as depressions) in the endothelial surface. In some areas ridges extended over the troughs, removing them from direct contact with the luminal surface. At no time were the troughs observed to penetrate the basal laminae. Fingerlike projections also extended into the lumina.To determine whether any chemical specializations accompanied the unusual morphological features of the luminal surface, we added 0.1% Alcian blue (Behnke and Zelander, 1970) to the 3% glutaraldehyde perfusate (cacodylate buffer, pH 7.4). After Alcian blue had reacted with the luminal glycocalyces, the dye was dissociated with MgCl2 via critical electrolyte concentration method of Scott and Dorling (1965). When these methods are applied together, it is possible to differentiate mucopolysaccharides (glycosaminoglycans or GAG) with the electron microscope.
Publisher
Cambridge University Press (CUP)