Capillary pericytes express α-smooth muscle actin, which requires prevention of filamentous-actin depolymerization for detection.

ABSTRACT: Recent evidence suggests that capillary pericytes are contractile and play a crucial role in the regulation of microcirculation. However, failure to detect components of the contractile apparatus in capillary pericytes, most notably α-smooth muscle actin (α-SMA), has questioned these findings. Using strategies that allow rapid filamentous-actin (F-actin) fixation (i.e. snap freeze fixation with methanol at -20°C) or prevent F-actin depolymerization (i.e. with F-actin stabilizing agents), we demonstrate that pericytes on mouse retinal capillaries, including those in intermediate and deeper plexus, express α-SMA. Junctional pericytes were more frequently α-SMA-positive relative to pericytes on linear capillary segments. Intravitreal administration of short interfering RNA (α-SMA-siRNA) suppr

SUBMITTER: Alarcon-Martinez L 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC5862523 | biostudies-literature | 2018 Mar

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature