[The astrocyte-endothelial interface in cerebellar astrocytoma].
The astrocyte-endothelial interface is a component of the anatomical blood-brain barrier in the central nervous system and is of interest in neoplastic lesions. We, therefore, investigated the fine structure of this interface in five, well-differentiated cerebellar astrocytomas. The astrocyte-endothelial interface in cerebellar astrocytomas revealed various abnormalities. The perivascular space is usually wide and contains various amounts of collagen fibers, fibroblasts and pericytes. The basal lamina of the endothelial cell is mostly single-layered and continuous, but sometimes multilayered and discontinuous. The basal lamina of the neoplastic astrocytic cell is usually single-layered and continuous, but is occasionally absent in foci. The basal lamina of the endothelial cell is more prominent than that of the astrocyte. The neoplastic astrocyte has not so well developed cell junctions and poorly formed peripheral expansions of the processes. The relationship between the basal lamina of the endothelial cell and that of the astrocyte in cerebellar astrocytomas is compared to that in ependymomas.
Uematsu
Y
Y
Bluestone Laboratory, Department of Pathology, Montefiore Medical Center, Albert Einstein College of Medicine, Bronx, New York.
Hirano
A
A
Kawano
H
H
Llena
J F
JF
D000328:Adult; D001253:Astrocytes / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001254:Astrocytoma / Q000098:blood supply / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D001485:Basement Membrane / Q000648:ultrastructure; D002528:Cerebellar Neoplasms / Q000098:blood supply / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D002648:Child; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000648:ultrastructure*; D005110:Extracellular Space; D006801:Humans; D008854:Microscopy, Electron