title: Diversity of ultrastructure in different phenotypes of cultured microvessel endothelial cells isolated from bovine corpus luteum.
abstract: Five different types of cultured microvessel endothelial cells defined by use of light microscopy and scanning electron microscopy in a preceding study were investigated by transmission electron microscopy. Type-1 cells displayed a deep invagination of the cell membrane or a single cilium. Granules of low electron density were abundant. A perinuclear ring of intermediate filaments occurred. Cultures of type-2 cells were subdivided into phenotype A, reminiscent of cell-type 1, and into phenotype B, assumed to be vascular smooth muscle cells. Many highly electron-dense granules appeared in late postconfluent cultures of both phenotypes. Cell-type 3 was conspicuous because of a large intracytoplasmic vacuole. Lysosomes with curvilinear bodies were found in cell-types 3 and 4. Both cell types developed a peripheral regular network of microfilaments. Cell-type 5 showed vesiculation of the rough endoplasmic reticulum, lipid droplets and a peripheral felt-like belt of microfilaments. Tubular forms seen in late postconfluent cultures of cell-types 1 to 3 displayed a core of extracellular matrix. Pseudotubular forms of cell-type 4 contained apoptotic bodies. Thus, as seen at the ultrastructural level, different features are maintained by cultured microvessel endothelial cells, suggesting that they have different inherent properties.
authors.affiliation: Institut für Anatomie der Medizinischen Universität, Lübeck, Federal Republic of Germany.
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Spanel-Borowski
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002417:Cattle; D003338:Corpus Luteum / Q000098:blood supply*; D046508:Culture Techniques; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D005260:Female; D008833:Microcirculation; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010641:Phenotype