The fine structure of human cerebral perivascular pericytes and juxtavascular phagocytes: their possible role in hydrocephalic edema resolution.
An electron microscopic study has been made of the perivascular cerebral pericytes and juxtavascular phagocytes in the human cerebral cortex. Biopsies from 16 hydrocephalic children and one 4-year-old normal child were analyzed. Pericytes showed vesicular transport demonstrating pericyte brain barrier alteration in hydrocephalus, which might help in the resolution of edema. Aggregation of vesicles, so obvious in the hydrocephalic material, was not seen in the control pericytes. Intercapillary channel (bridge) was seen in one instance. Phagocytic cells containing lipid vacuoles cellular debris and lysosomes were often observed in the vicinity of the microvasculature of the hydrocephalic biopsies. Occasional separation of a phagocytic pericyte from the vessel wall suggests that some juxtavascular phagocytes may be derived from pericytes.
Hasan
M
M
Department of Anatomy, Georg-August-University, Goettingen, FRG.
Glees
P
P
D001706:Biopsy; D001812:Blood-Brain Barrier; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005625:Frontal Lobe / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D006849:Hydrocephalus / Q000473:pathology* / Q000503:physiopathology; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D010586:Phagocytes / Q000473:pathology* / Q000502:physiology