Summary
Electron microscopic studies have previously shown that histamine-type mediators of vascular leakage induce: (1) the appearance of gaps between venular endothelial cells; and (2) deformation of endothelial nuclei, with multiple deep infoldings. It has been postulated that these changes (and the leakage) are due to contraction of endothelial cells. The present paper has investigated this hypothesis by examining the effects of bradykinin and histamine on living rat mesenteric venules. Within 2–5 minutes after application of the mediator, some endothelial cells began to bulge; obvious bulging lasted for about 5 minutes and then subsided slowly; by 20–30 minutes after application of the mediator, the cells were again flattened. This time-course of bulging and flattening corresponded with the rise and fall in vascular permeability, as shown by carbon labeling. Electron microscopy confirmed the presence of deformed nuclei in such vessels. These observations support the concept that vascular leakage, caused by histamine-type mediators, is dependent upon endothelial contraction.
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This work was submitted by Miss Joris in partial fulfillment of the requirements for a Doctorate in Medical Biology, University of Geneva.
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Joris, I., Majno, G. & Ryan, G.B. Endothelial contractionin vivo : A study of the rat mesentery. Virchows Arch. Abt. B Zellpath. 12, 73–83 (1972). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02893987
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02893987