Cell and Tissue Research

, Volume 231, Issue 3, pp 571–577 | Cite as

Observations on the permeability of the choriocapillaris of the eye

  • Edward Essner
  • Sheldon R. Gordon
Article
Accepted:

Summary

The choriocapillaris is a fenestrated capillary bed located posterior to the retinal pigment epithelium. It serves as the main source of supply to the photoreceptors, retinal pigment epithelium, and other cells of the outer retina. The permeability of these capillaries to intravenously injected ferritin (MW — approx. 480,000; mol. diam. 11 nm) was examined in the mouse, rabbit, and guinea pig, each of which is characterized by a different type of retinal vascularization. In all three species, the bulk of the ferritin remained in the capillary lumina, where it appeared to be blocked at the level of the diaphragmed fenestrae. Some ferritin was present in endothelial cell vacuoles. The results confirm previous work on the rat choriocapillaris and indicate that the barrier function of the choriocapillary endothelium is present even among species in which the retinal circulation differs significantly.

Key words

Capillary Endothelium Ferritin Permeability 
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Copyright information

© Springer-Verlag 1983

Authors and Affiliations

  • Edward Essner
    • 1
  • Sheldon R. Gordon
    • 1
  1. 1.Kresge Eye Institute, Wayne State University School of MedicineDetroitUSA

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