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Pericyte involvement in capillary sprouting during angiogenesis in situ

V Nehls1, K Denzer, D Drenckhahn

  • 1Anatomisches Institut der Universität, Würzburg, Germany.

Cell and Tissue Research
|December 1, 1992
PubMed

Insights

Microvascular pericytes play a key role in capillary sprouting during angiogenesis. These cells guide endothelial cell outgrowth by bridging gaps between advancing sprouts, aiding new blood vessel formation.

Area of Science:

  • Cell Biology
  • Vascular Biology
  • Histology

Background:

  • Angiogenesis, the formation of new blood vessels, is a complex process involving endothelial cells and supporting cells.
  • Microvascular pericytes are specialized cells that ensheath capillaries and are crucial for vascular development and stability.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the specific role of microvascular pericytes in the early stages of capillary sprouting.
  • To determine the cellular markers and localization of pericytes during angiogenesis.

Main Methods:

  • Whole-mount preparations of rat mesentery were used to visualize capillary sprouts.
  • Double immunofluorescence staining was employed to identify endothelial cells (rhodamine-conjugated phalloidin) and pericytes (anti-desmin antibody).
  • Angiogenesis was induced using compound 48/80 or tumor cell-conditioned medium.

Main Results:

  • Pericytes were identified as desmin-positive and negative for smooth-muscle alpha-actin during early sprouting.
  • Pericytes were consistently observed at the tips of advancing endothelial sprouts.
  • Pericytes were seen bridging gaps between merging endothelial sprouts, suggesting a guiding role.

Conclusions:

  • Microvascular pericytes are involved in the earliest phases of capillary sprouting.
  • Pericytic processes may act as structural guides for endothelial cell outgrowth during angiogenesis.
  • Desmin is a reliable marker for identifying pericytes in this context.

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