Actin filaments in retinal pericytes and endothelial cells.
The contractile protein actin was identified within retinal capillary pericytes and endothelial cells. In capillary cross-sections, circumferential pericyte processes showed numerous parallel bundles of actin filaments forming a cap over the adjacent endothelial cells. The latter contained few actin filaments but a considerable number of intermediate filaments. Pericytes and endothelial cells communicated via gaps in the adluminal basal lamina. These special anatomic relationships are interpreted as evidence for a contractile role of retinal capillary pericytes and against a contractile role of retinal capillary endothelial cells
D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis*; D000818:Animals; D002196:Capillaries / Q000032:analysis; D003599:Cytoskeleton / Q000032:analysis; D004727:Endothelium / Q000032:analysis; D008854:Microscopy, Electron; D012171:Retinal Vessels / Q000032:analysis* / Q000648:ultrastructure; D012453:Saimiri
D000199:Actins