Background:The human cerebral cortex is supplied by vessels that arise from the pial arteries. These vessels give rise to a dense vascular network that is highly interconnected. Cortical arteries have been classified in different categories. Both their angioarchitectonic pattern and anatomical structures involved in their regulation are not fully understood.Methods: Twelve fresh human brains were studied by scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts.Results: Four types of arterial vessels in the cerebral cortex-short, middle, long, and transcortical-were identified. The cortical vascular network was formed by several interconnected clusters of vessels, which were arranged in four vascular layers parallel to the pial surface and characterized by different vascular densities. The greatest vascular density corresponded to the middle and deep vascular layers. Circular constrictions were found at the origin of cortical arteries and at their branching sites, probably related to vascular sphincters. Connections between cortical arteries were observed at their initial course. Plastic strips, occasionally related to constrictions, were observed around both middle and long cortical arteries. Other plastic structures, morphologically similar to pericytes, were found around capillary vessels.Conclusions: The blood supply to the human cerebral cortex depends on the short, middle, and long cortical arteries, which give rise to a highly anastomosed capillary network. There exist vascular connections between pial arteries and occasionally between cortical arteries. Blood flow autoregulation is probably mediated by smooth muscle cells at the arteriolar level and by pericytes at the capillary level, through endothelial connections. Anat. Rec. 251:87-96, 1998.
Background:The human cerebral cortex is supplied by vessels that arise from the pial arteries. These vessels give rise to a dense vascular network that is highly interconnected. Cortical arteries have been classified in different categories. Both their angioarchitectonic pattern and anatomical structures involved in their regulation are not fully understood.Methods: Twelve fresh human brains were studied by scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts.Results: Four types of arterial vessels in the cerebral cortex-short, middle, long, and transcortical-were identified. The cortical vascular network was formed by several interconnected clusters of vessels, which were arranged in four vascular layers parallel to the pial surface and characterized by different vascular densities. The greatest vascular density corresponded to the middle and deep vascular layers. Circular constrictions were found at the origin of cortical arteries and at their branching sites, probably related to vascular sphincters. Connections between cortical arteries were observed at their initial course. Plastic strips, occasionally related to constrictions, were observed around both middle and long cortical arteries. Other plastic structures, morphologically similar to pericytes, were found around capillary vessels.Conclusions: The blood supply to the human cerebral cortex depends on the short, middle, and long cortical arteries, which give rise to a highly anastomosed capillary network. There exist vascular connections between pial arteries and occasionally between cortical arteries. Blood flow autoregulation is probably mediated by smooth muscle cells at the arteriolar level and by pericytes at the capillary level, through endothelial connections. Anat. Rec. 251:87-96, 1998.
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of microvascular corrosion casts revealed perivascular structures that resembled smooth muscle and pericyte cells. Although these structures have been studied in widely different experimental contexts, their origin, function, and distribution pattern in different tissues are not understood. Microvascular corrosion casts from 15 fresh human brains and 20 lumbar spinal cords were studied by SEM. In five cerebral hemispheres a fluorescent resin was injected in order to study the vascular bed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Microvascular casts showed two perivascular structures on their surfaces: plastic strips, which formed a muff around arteriolar vessels, and pericyte-like structures that were present around the capillary network. Their morphological characteristics and distribution were similar to those of smooth muscle cells and pericytes, respectively. The SEM study showed that these structures were not tightly joined to the cast surface, but were connected to the vascular cast by narrow plastic connections. The CLSM showed that the resin invaded the subendothelial space, thus giving rise to these structures. Perivascular structures associated with arteriolar and capillary vessels appear to represent smooth muscle cells and pericytes. They are formed by the passage of the resin to the subendothelial space, probably through weak endothelial cell junctions. The effusion of resin into the subendothelial space may represent evidence for the structural basis of myocyte and pericyte cell control. Chemical communication by substances released locally or transported to these cells through these junctions may regulate their functions, allowing them to regulate blood flow.
Scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of microvascular corrosion casts revealed perivascular structures that resembled smooth muscle and pericyte cells. Although these structures have been studied in widely different experimental contexts, their origin, function, and distribution pattern in different tissues are not understood. Microvascular corrosion casts from 15 fresh human brains and 20 lumbar spinal cords were studied by SEM. In five cerebral hemispheres a fluorescent resin was injected in order to study the vascular bed by confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM). Microvascular casts showed two perivascular structures on their surfaces: plastic strips, which formed a muff around arteriolar vessels, and pericyte-like structures that were present around the capillary network. Their morphological characteristics and distribution were similar to those of smooth muscle cells and pericytes, respectively. The SEM study showed that these structures were not tightly joined to the cast surface, but were connected to the vascular cast by narrow plastic connections. The CLSM showed that the resin invaded the subendothelial space, thus giving rise to these structures. Perivascular structures associated with arteriolar and capillary vessels appear to represent smooth muscle cells and pericytes. They are formed by the passage of the resin to the subendothelial space, probably through weak endothelial cell junctions. The effusion of resin into the subendothelial space may represent evidence for the structural basis of myocyte and pericyte cell control. Chemical communication by substances released locally or transported to these cells through these junctions may regulate their functions, allowing them to regulate blood flow.
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