Cytoarchitecture of choroidal capillary endothelial cells.

Content Provider	Semantic Scholar
Author	Guymer, Robyn H. Bird, Alan C. Hageman, Gregory S.
Copyright Year	2004
Abstract	PURPOSE To describe the cytoarchitecture of the choroidal capillary endothelial cells, especially as it relates to cellular processes that protrude through the basal lamina into Bruch's membrane (BM). METHODS Human donor eyes and monkey and hamster eyes were examined by transmission electron microscopy and freeze-fracture replication. The number of endothelial cell processes and the characteristics of the processes and surrounding structures were determined in the maculae of human eyes and correlated with age-related changes in neighboring structures. RESULTS Endothelial cell processes were observed in eyes of all species examined and at all ages. They typically occurred at sites of focally thickened, nonfenestrated regions of the endothelial cells. The basal lamina adjacent to the processes was often hypertrophic and associated deposits of long-spacing collagen (LSC) were observed frequently. In humans, there was no correlation between the number of processes per 100 micro m of the BM with age, sex, cause of death, postmortem time, RPE autofluorescence, or RPE residual body content. There was a weak linear association with the thickness of the BM. CONCLUSIONS The finding of cellular processes of choroidal capillary endothelial cells penetrating their basal laminae is normal. These processes may serve to stabilize choroidal endothelial cells physically and play an important structural role in the maintenance of patency of the choriocapillaris. It is also possible that they have additional functions, as suggested for similar processes in other tissues. They are not necessarily the harbinger of choroidal neovascularization, although growth of new vessels may result from distortion of this normal attribute.
Starting Page	337
Ending Page	339
Page Count	3
File Format	PDF HTM / HTML
Alternate Webpage(s)	http://iovs.arvojournals.org/pdfaccess.ashx?url=/data/journals/iovs/932926/z7g00604001660.pdf
PubMed reference number	15161823v1
Volume Number	45
Issue Number	6
Journal	Investigative ophthalmology & visual science
Language	English
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Autopsy Basal Ganglia Diseases Basal lamina Blood Vessel Body tissue Cessation of life Choroidal Neovascularization Endothelial Cells Eye Hypertrophy Macule Pathologic Neovascularization Structure of lamina choroidocapillaris Tissue membrane Transmission Electron Microscopy viral capsid secondary envelopment
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article