Summary
Pathways for transfer of horseradish peroxidase (HRP) across the cerebral microvasculature were studied in Mongolian gerbils after inducing either unilateral carotid-artery ligation or intracarotid air embolism. Electron microscopy on samples from both ipsilateral and contralateral brain hemispheres showed the reaction product (HRP) in the endothelial cytoplasm of capillaries and arterioles in all animals; in the basal lamina, HRP was seen only after long (3–4 h) ischemic periods.
HRP was seen within both spherical and tubular structures, with the latter appearing in obliquely or longitudinally sectioned blood vessels. These endothelial channel-like structures are part of a tubulovesicular network which seemingly exists in the normal endothelium of the gerbil brain. The tubules serve as pathways for proteins into the brain; protein transfer becomes enhanced following circulatory injuries such as ischemia.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Beggs, J. L., Waggener, J. D.: Transendothelial vesicular transport of protein following compression injury to the spinal cord. Lab. Invest.34, 428–439 (1976)
Beggs, J. L., Waggener, J. D., Miller, W.: Vasogenic edema in the injured spinal cord: possible role of microtubules in endothelial vesicular transport of HRP. Thirty-third annual proceedings of electron microscopy society of america, Bailey, G. W. (ed.). pp. 398. Baton Rouge: 1975
Brightman, M. W.: Morphology of blood-brain interfaces. Exp. Eye Res. [Suppl.] 1–25 (1977)
Brightman, M. W., Klatzo, I., Olsson, Y., Reese, T. S.: The blood-brain barrier to proteins under normal and pathological conditions. J. Neurol. Sci.10, 215–239 (1970)
Hansson, H. A., Johansson, B., Blomstrand, C.: Ultrastructural studies on cerebrovascular permeability in acute hypertension. Acta Neuropathol. (Berl.)32, 187–198 (1975)
Hashimoto, P. H.: Intracellular channels as a route for protein passage in the capillary endothelium of the shark brain. Am. J. Anat.134, 41–58 (1972)
Hashimoto, P. H., Takaesu, S., Chazono, M., Amano, T.: Vascular leakage through intraendothelial channels induced by cholera toxin in the skin of guinea pigs. Am. J. Pathol.75, 171–180 (1974)
Hirano, A., Becker, N. H., Zimmerman, H. M.: Pathological alterations in the cerebral endothelial cell barrier to peroxidase. Arch. Neurol.20, 300–308 (1969)
Lavy, S., Melamed, E., Portnoy, Z.: The effect of cerebral infarction on the regional cerebral blood flow of the contralateral hemisphere. Stroke6, 160–163 (1975)
Lightfoote, W. E., Jr., Molinari, G. F., Chase, T. N.: Modification of cerebral ischemic damage by anesthetics. Stroke8, 627–628 (1977)
Littler, W. A., Honour, A. J., Sleight, P.: Direct arterial pressure, heart rate, and electrocardiogram during human coitus. J. Reprod. Fertil.40, 321–331 (1974)
Nag, S., Robertson, D. M., Dinsdale, H. B.: Cerebral cortical changes in acute experimental hypertension. An ultrastructural study. Lab. Invest.36, 150–161 (1977)
Nishimoto, K., Wolman, M., Spatz, M., Klatzo, I.: Pathophysiologic correlations in the blood-brain barrier damage due to air embolism. In: Advances in neurology. Vol. 20, pp. 237–244. New York: Raven Press 1978
Novikoff, A. B., Holtzman, E.: Cells and organelles, p. 90. New York: Holt, Rinehart, Winston 1970
Novikoff, A. B., Novikoff, P. M.: Cytochemical contributions to differentiating GERL from the Golgi apparatus. Histochem. J.9, 525–551 (1977)
Olsson, Y., Hossmann, K.-A.: Fine structural localization of exudated protein tracers in the brain. Acta Neuropathol. (Berl.)16, 109–116 (1970)
Peachey, L. D.: Thin sections. I. A study of section thickness and physical distortion produced during microtomy. J. Biophys. Biochem. Cytol.4, 233–242 (1958)
Reese, T. S., Karnovsky, M. J.: Fine structural localization of a blood-brain barrier to exogenous peroxidase. J. Cell Biol.34, 207–217 (1967)
Sasaki, S., Ferszt, R., Cervos-Navarro, J.: Transendothelial vesicular transport of protein in brain edema induced by ultraviolet irradiation. Acta Neuropathol. (Berl.)40, 207–212 (1977)
Shivers, R. R.: The effect of hyperglycimia on brain capillary permeability in a lizard, Anolis corolinensis. A freeze fracture study. Proceedings VIIIth neuroscience meeting 4, 335, November 1978
Simionescu, N., Simionescu, M., Palade, G. E.: Permeability of muscle capillaries to small heme-peptides. J. Cell Biol.64, 586–607 (1975)
Simionescu, N., Simionescu, M., Palade, G. E.: Structural basis of permeability in sequential segments of the microvasculature of the diaphragm. II. Pathways by microperoxidase across the endothelium. Microvasc. Res.15, 17–36 (1978)
Trump, B. F., Arstila, A. U.: Cellular reaction to injury. In: Principles of pathobiology. Lavia, M. F., Hill, R. B., Jr. (eds.). pp. 9–94. New York: Oxford University Press 1975
Van Deurs, B.: Choroid plexus absorption of horseradish peroxidase from the cerebral ventricles. J. Ultrastruct. Res.55, 400–416 (1976)
Welch, K. M. A., Meyer, J. S., Teraura, T., Hashi, K., Shinmaru, S.: Ischemic anoxia and cerebral serotonin levels. J. Neurol. Sci.16, 85–92 (1972)
Westergaard, E.: Enhanced vesicular transport of exogenous peroxidase across cerebral vessels, induced by serotonin. Acta Neuropathol. (Berl.)32, 27–42 (1975a)
Westergaard, E.: The effect of serotonin, norepinephrine and cyclic AMP on the blood-brain barrier. J. Ultrastruct. Res.50, 383 (1975b)
Westergaard, E., Brightman, M. W.: Transport of proteins across normal cerebral arterioles. J. Comp. Neurol.152, 17–44 (1973)
Westergaard, E., Go, G., Klatzo, I., Spatz, M.: Increased permeability of cerebral vessels to horseradish peroxidase induced by ischemia in Mongolian gerbils. Acta Neuropathol. (Berl.)35, 307–325 (1976)
Westergaard, E., Van Deurs, B., Brondsted, H. E.: Increased vesicular transfer of horseradish peroxidase across cerebral endothelium, evoked by acute hypertension. Acta Neuropathol. (Berl.)37, 141–152 (1977)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
USPHS grant NS 06779 and NINDCS contract No. TL-CHJE
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Lossinsky, A.S., Garcia, J.H., Iwanowski, L. et al. New ultrastructural evidence for a protein transport system in endothelial cells of gerbil brains. Acta Neuropathol 47, 105–110 (1979). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00717032
Received:
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00717032