Summary
In the mouse thyroid gland the endothelium lining the blood capillaries is separated from the epithelial cells by a periendothelial space composed of three layers. Two of these are rather dense and localized close to the epithelium and endothelium, respectively. The third layer, interposed between the two dense layers, has a very low density. The dense layers, having each a thickness of 400–500 Å, show at high magnification in some places a lamellated structure. The middle layer varies in thickness and contains sometimes aggregates of a homogeneous material, circular bodies bordered by a membrane and, in single cases, fibrillar structures.
The major part of the endothelial wall is very thin, only 200–600 Å. Within these thin parts discontinuities are observed, the endothelial cytoplasm being replaced by a more or less distinct membrane, about 50 Å thick. The dimension of the discontinuities is about 400 Å. The observations made are discussed.
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Ekholm, R. The ultrastructure of the blood capillaries in the mouse thyroid gland. Z.Zellforsch 46, 139–146 (1957). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383226
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00383226