The structural basis of the inner blood-retina barrier in the eye of Macaca mulatta. 1987

M J Sagaties, and G Raviola, and S Schaeffer, and C Miller
Department of Anatomy, Boston University Medical School, Massachusetts.

This is a morphological analysis of the inner blood-retina barrier in various segments of the retinal vasculature in the eye of Macaque monkeys. The primary aims of this study are to identify the components of the walls of the arteries, central capillaries, peripheral capillaries and veins of the retina using light and electron microscopy, and to compare and contrast junctional morphology as revealed by thin section electron microscopy and freeze-fracture. The walls of these vascular segments are composed of continuous endothelium, muscle cells or pericytes, and connective tissue. Endothelial cells are joined by tight and gap junctions. In freeze-fracture replicas, tight junctions consist of a continuous, complex network of branching and anastomosing strands which do not possess free endings. The intramembrane strands of tight junction remain preferentially associated with the outer membrane leaflet or E-face of the endothelial plasma membrane and sit at the bottom of linear strands or grooves. However, particles and fragments of the intramembrane strands may be avulsed from the E-face during the fracture process and are associated with ridges on the inner membrane leaflet or P-face. The total number of plasmalemmal vesicles per unit area of endothelial cell for each vascular segment in thin sections is less than non-barrier endothelium, but greater than barrier endothelium. The paucity of plasmalemmal vesicles and the complexity of the tight junctional network contribute to the barrier function of the retinal vascular endothelium.

UI MeSH Term Description Entries
D007365 Intercellular Junctions Direct contact of a cell with a neighboring cell. Most such junctions are too small to be resolved by light microscopy, but they can be visualized by conventional or freeze-fracture electron microscopy, both of which show that the interacting CELL MEMBRANE and often the underlying CYTOPLASM and the intervening EXTRACELLULAR SPACE are highly specialized in these regions. (From Alberts et al., Molecular Biology of the Cell, 2d ed, p792) Cell Junctions,Cell Junction,Intercellular Junction,Junction, Cell,Junction, Intercellular,Junctions, Cell,Junctions, Intercellular
D008253 Macaca mulatta A species of the genus MACACA inhabiting India, China, and other parts of Asia. The species is used extensively in biomedical research and adapts very well to living with humans. Chinese Rhesus Macaques,Macaca mulatta lasiota,Monkey, Rhesus,Rhesus Monkey,Rhesus Macaque,Chinese Rhesus Macaque,Macaca mulatta lasiotas,Macaque, Rhesus,Rhesus Macaque, Chinese,Rhesus Macaques,Rhesus Macaques, Chinese,Rhesus Monkeys
D008297 Male Males
D008854 Microscopy, Electron Microscopy using an electron beam, instead of light, to visualize the sample, thereby allowing much greater magnification. The interactions of ELECTRONS with specimens are used to provide information about the fine structure of that specimen. In TRANSMISSION ELECTRON MICROSCOPY the reactions of the electrons that are transmitted through the specimen are imaged. In SCANNING ELECTRON MICROSCOPY an electron beam falls at a non-normal angle on the specimen and the image is derived from the reactions occurring above the plane of the specimen. Electron Microscopy
D012160 Retina The ten-layered nervous tissue membrane of the eye. It is continuous with the OPTIC NERVE and receives images of external objects and transmits visual impulses to the brain. Its outer surface is in contact with the CHOROID and the inner surface with the VITREOUS BODY. The outer-most layer is pigmented, whereas the inner nine layers are transparent. Ora Serrata
D001813 Blood-Retinal Barrier A specialized transport barrier, in the EYE, formed by the retinal pigment EPITHELIUM, and the ENDOTHELIUM of the BLOOD VESSELS of the RETINA. TIGHT JUNCTIONS joining adjacent cells keep the barrier between cells continuous. Retinal-Blood Barrier,Barrier, Blood-Retinal,Barrier, Retinal-Blood,Barriers, Blood-Retinal,Barriers, Retinal-Blood,Blood Retinal Barrier,Blood-Retinal Barriers,Retinal Blood Barrier,Retinal-Blood Barriers
D002462 Cell Membrane The lipid- and protein-containing, selectively permeable membrane that surrounds the cytoplasm in prokaryotic and eukaryotic cells. Plasma Membrane,Cytoplasmic Membrane,Cell Membranes,Cytoplasmic Membranes,Membrane, Cell,Membrane, Cytoplasmic,Membrane, Plasma,Membranes, Cell,Membranes, Cytoplasmic,Membranes, Plasma,Plasma Membranes
D004727 Endothelium A layer of epithelium that lines the heart, blood vessels (ENDOTHELIUM, VASCULAR), lymph vessels (ENDOTHELIUM, LYMPHATIC), and the serous cavities of the body. Endotheliums
D005260 Female Females
D005614 Freeze Fracturing Preparation for electron microscopy of minute replicas of exposed surfaces of the cell which have been ruptured in the frozen state. The specimen is frozen, then cleaved under high vacuum at the same temperature. The exposed surface is shadowed with carbon and platinum and coated with carbon to obtain a carbon replica. Fracturing, Freeze,Fracturings, Freeze,Freeze Fracturings

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