“Rouget, in 1873,


“Rouget, in 1873, GANT61 manufacturer was the first to describe a population of cells surrounding capillaries, which he regarded as contractile elements. Fifty years later, Zimmermann termed these cells “pericytes” and distinguished three

subtypes along the vascular tree. Since then, the discussion concerning the contractile ability of pericytes has never ceased. Current concepts of pericyte biology rather suggest critical roles in the maintenance of homeostasis, blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity, angiogenesis, and neovascularization. In addition, data from models of brain pathology suggest that novel pericytes are recruited from the bone marrow, but their respective precursor remains enigmatic. Recent data also suggest an important role in the regulation of cerebral blood flow, thus confirming Rouget’s original idea. However, comparison of data from different studies is often constrained by the fact that pericytes were questionably identified. Although a clear-cut definition exists, defining pericytes as part of the vascular wall being enclosed in its basement membrane, pericytes are often mixed Lip with adjacent cell types of the vascular wall, the perivascular space, and the juxtavascular parenchyma.

In fact, their identification is difficult-if not impossible-in standard histological sections. An unambiguous distinction, however, is possible at the ultrastructural level and in semi-thin sections, where their location within the vascular basement membrane can be displayed. Using Small molecule library cell line these techniques

in combination with immunological staining methods allows demarking their unique morphology and location. Here, we review original papers describing pericytes, briefly outline their topography within the vascular compartments, describe methods for their identification, and summarize current concepts of their function. (c) 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc.”
“Purpose: To describe characteristic findings of acute retinal ischemic damage in optical coherence tomography.\n\nMethods: Eighteen cases of acute retinal arterial occlusion with available fundus photography, optical coherence tomography, and/or fluorescein JPH203 angiography in the early phase (< 1 month) with more than 2 months follow-up were reviewed. A site-to-site analysis between optical coherence tomography morphology and correlating fundus images were done on each visit.\n\nResults: Retinal opacities at first presentation were vague to mild opacity in four eyes, moderate (affecting visibility of underlying choroidal vessels) in seven, severe (yellow to whitish) in five, and very severe (chalky white) in two. These changes eventually disappear within 1 month (8 of 9 eyes). Inner retinal hyperreflectivity and a “prominent middle limiting membrane” in optical coherence tomography were consistently noticed up to 1 month showing regional correlation with the retinal opaque areas and was readily identified even in areas with vague or disappeared retinal opacities.

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