“…This technique has been used to quantify endothelial parameters in humans and other animal species including pigs (TAMAYO-ARANGO et al, 2009), rabbits (SAILSTAD & PEIFFER, 1981;OJEDA et al, 2001), dogs (GWIN et al, 1982;PIGATTO et al, 2006;RODRIGUES et al, 2006), horses (ANDREW et al, 2001;LEDBETTER & SCARLETT, 2009), llamas and alpacas (ANDREW et al, 2002), chinchillas (BERCHT et al, 2015), and cats (FRANZEN et al, 2010), among others. The high cost of specular microscopes and the difficulty in obtaining good images in injured endothelial areas are common challenges or barriers to the use of this technique (ANDREW et al, 2001;PIGATTO et al, 2005a;SAAD et al, 2008). SEM has been widely used to compare the endothelial ultrastructure of vertebrates and to evaluate the effects of medications, chemicals, or surgical procedures on the endothelium (COLLIN & COLLIN, 1998;PIGATTO et al, 2004;PIGATTO et al, 2005a;PIGATTO et al, 2005b;PIGATTO et al, 2009).…”