Summary
The structure of mesenchymal cells distributed in some of the “hypendymal organs” of the circumventricular system in the cat and rat was demonstrated after intravenous injection of high doses of horseradish peroxidase. These cellular elements were observed in the vicinity of blood vessels of the organon vasculosum laminae terminalis, subfornical organ and area postrema. Electron-microscopically, these cells located between the basal laminae of the brain parenchyma and the blood capillaries show long cellular processes encircling fenestrated capillaries. Light and electron-microscopic examination revealed that this cell type is identical with the “horseradish peroxidase-uptake cells”, previously reported in the vicinity of the hypophysial portal system. Such phagocytic cells may be considered as a cellular component intervening between the brain parenchyma and the blood stream, playing a role in selective barrier functions in the above-mentioned circumventricular organs where a blood-brain barrier in the classical sense of the definition is lacking.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Behnsen G (1927) Über die Farbstoffspeicherung in der weißen Maus in verschiedenen Alterszuständen. Z Zellforsch 4:515–572
Bosler O (1977) The organum vasculosum laminae terminalis. A cytological study in the duck, Anas platyrhynchos. Cell Tissue Res 182:382–399
Bouchaud C (1975) Données ultrastructurales sur la perméabilité des capillaires des organes circumventriculaires du cerveau. J Microsc Biol Cell 24:45–58
Broadwell RD, Brightman MW (1976) Entry of peroxidase into neurons of the central and peripheral nervous system from extracerebral and cerebral blood. J Comp Neurol 166:257–284
Fahimi HD (1976) The fine structural localization of endogenous and exogenous peroxidase activity in Kupffer cells of rat liver. J Cell Biol 47:247–262
Graham RC, Karnovsky MJ (1966) The early stages of absorption of injected peroxidase in the proximal tubles of mouse kidney: Ultrastructural cytochemistry by a new technique. J Histochem Cytochem 14:291–302
Klara PM, Brizzee KR (1975) The ultrastructural morphology of the squirrel monkey area postrema. Cell Tissue Res 160:315–326
Klara PM, Brizzee KR, Chen I-LI, Yates RD (1978) Ultrastructural localization of ATPase activity in the dog area postrema. Brain Res 146:165–171
Krisch B, Leonhardt H (1978) The functional and structural border between CSF and blood-milieu in the circumventricular organs (organum vasculosum laminae terminalis, subfornical organ, area postrema) of the rat. Cell Tissue Res 195:485–497
Leonhardt H (1967) Über die Blutkapillaren und perivasculären Strukturen der Area postrema des Kaninchens und über ihr Verhalten im Pentamethylentetrazol-(“Cardiazol”)-Krampf. Z Zellforsch 76:511–524
Rachmanow A (1913) Beiträge zur vitalen Färbung des Zentralnervensystems. Folia Neuro-Biologica 7:750–771
Sano Y, Murabe Y (1980) Morphological and functional peculiarities of mesenchymal cells in the pars tuberalis of the pituitary gland. Cell Tissue Res 206:171–180
Torack RM, Finke EH (1971) Evidence for a sequestration of function within the area postrema based on scanning electron microscopy and the penetration of horseradish peroxidase. Z Zellforsch 118:85–96
Vigh B (1971) Das Paraventrikularorgan und das zirkumventriculäre System. Studia Biologica Hungarica 10. Budapest: Akadémiai Kiadó
Weindl A (1973) Neuroendocrine aspects of circumventricular organs. In: Ganong WF, Martini L (eds) Frontiers in Neuroendocrinology. Oxford University Press, New York London Toronto, pp 3–32
Wislocki GB, Leduc EH (1952) Vital staining of the hematoencephalic barrier by silver nitrate and trypan blue, and cytological comparisons of the neurohypophysis, pineal body, area postrema, intercolumnar tubercle and supraotic crest. J Comp Neurol 96:371–413
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
This work was supported by grant No. 437002 from the Ministry of Education, Science and Culture, Japan
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Murabe, Y., Nishida, K. & Sano, Y. Cells capable of uptake of horseradish peroxidase in some circumventricular organs of the cat and rat. Cell Tissue Res. 219, 85–92 (1981). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00210020
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00210020