Vascular basement membranes: preparation and properties of material isolated with the use of detergents

Cerebellar capillaries. Qualitative and quantitative observations in young and senile rats

Ultrastructural changes including reduced electron density, reduction in polysomes and cisternae of rough endoplasmic reticulum occur in tthe cytoplasm of endothelial cells and pericytes in the cerebellar cortex of senile virgin female Han: WIST-rats in comparison to 3-month old virgin rats. processes of pericytes cover less of the capillary surface in the cerebellar cortex of senile rats; moreover, arithmetic and harmonic mean thickness of the endothelium and relative volume of mitochondria in endothelial cells and pericytes are reduced, whereas he luminal diameter of the capillaries, harmonic and arithmetic mean thickness of pericytes and their processes and of the basal laminae between endothelial cells and astrocytes (abbreviated BAL 1), pericytes and astrocytes (BAL 2) and endothelial cells and pericytes (BAL 3) increase. The increase in harmonic mean thickness of the basal laminae is statistically significant (alpha less than or equal to 0.05) and compensates for a decrease in thickness of capillary endothelium. Consequently, the total barrier mass and thickness of cerebellar cortical capillaries in senile animals is higher than in young individuals.

Preparation of cell-free extracellular matrix from human peripheral nerve

The extracellular matrix of human peripheral nerve, which is mainly basement membrane and fibrillar collagen, has been prepared by a procedure involving extensive detergent extraction of isolated endoneurium and perineurium obtained from various nerves. The ultrastructure of the isolated nerve extracellular matrix was indistinguishable from that seen in sections of intact nerve, indicating that the extraction procedure preserved the morphological integrity of these connective tissue components. The amino acid and carbohydrate compositions of the nerve extracellular matrix preparations were typically collagenous in nature containing a high content of glycine, proline, 4-hydroxyproline, and alanine and significant amounts of lysine and hydroxylysine. The preparations contained virtually no 3-hydroxyproline and low content of glucose and galactose compared to pure basement membranes, indicating that interstitial rather than basement membrane collagens predominated. This preparation appears well-suited to both the ultrastructural and biochemical study of the extracellular matrix of peripheral nerve.