Endothelial cilia in rat mesenteric arteries and intramyocardial capillaries.
We report for the first time the presence of endothelial cilia in rat blood vessels. They are seen in the mesenteric arteries of hypertensive rats and the intramyocardial capillaries of aged rats. The cilia are solitary and have the shape of the "9 + 0" axonemal structure. The processes of the basal foot and the transitional fiber are accompanied by basal bodies. The function of the solitary cilia is obscure.
Kojimahara
M
M
Department of Pathology, Takeda General Hospital, Aizuwakamatsu, Japan.
D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries; D002923:Cilia / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains