Isolation and Characterization of Brain Endothelial Cells: Morphology and Enzyme Activity |
| |
| Authors: | Stuart K Williams John F Gillis Maureen A Matthews† Roger C Wagnert Mark W Bitensky |
| |
| Institution: | Department of Pathology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06510, U.S.A.;School of Life and Health Sciences, University of Delaware, Newark, Delaware 19711, U.S.A. |
| |
| Abstract: | Microvessels were isolated from rat brain using a double collagenase treatment which removed the endothelial basement membranes. The isolate was characterized by intact luminal and abluminal membranes and an absence of pericytes and astrocyte membranes. Minimal contamination by 5′-nucleotidase, an enzyme believed exclusively localized within the plasma membranes of neuroglia, established the purity of the isolated microvessels. Enrichment of alkaline phosphatase and -γ-glutamyl transpeptidase activity in microvessel preparations supports the endothelial localization of these enzymes. |
| |
| Keywords: | Isolated microvessels Ultrastructure 5'-Nucleotidase Endothelial specific enzymes Brain |
|
|
