Endothelial cell membrane: differences in the density of intramembranous particles between tissue- and blood-fronts revealed by freeze-fracture.
Significantly higher density of intramembranous particles (IMP) was noted in the endothelial plasma membrane facing the blood-front compared to the tissue-front. The difference may be related to the function of the vascular endothelium as an active barrier between the blood and the tissue.
D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000648:ultrastructure; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002196:Capillaries / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002462:Cell Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D004727:Endothelium / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005614:Freeze Fracturing; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D014680:Veins / Q000648:ultrastructure