Three-dimensional ultrastructure of capillary endothelial glycocalyx under normal and experimental endotoxemic conditions.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Sugar-protein glycocalyx coats healthy endothelium, but its ultrastructure is not well described. Our aim was to determine the three-dimensional ultrastructure of capillary endothelial glycocalyx in the heart, kidney, and liver, where capillaries are, respectively, continuous, fenestrated, and sinusoidal.

Methods

Tissue samples were processed with lanthanum-containing alkaline fixative, which preserves the structure of glycocalyx.

Results

Scanning and transmission electron microscopy revealed that the endothelial glycocalyx layer in continuous and fenestrated capillaries was substantially thicker than in sinusoids. In the heart, the endothelial glycocalyx presented as moss- or broccoli-like and covered the entire luminal endothelial cell surface. In the kid

SUBMITTER: Okada H 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5651619 | biostudies-literature | 2017 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature