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Related Experiment Video

Updated: Jun 22, 2026

A High Output Method to Isolate Cerebral Pericytes from Mouse

A High Output Method to Isolate Cerebral Pericytes from Mouse

Published on: January 14, 2020

CNS pericytes: concepts, misconceptions, and a way out.

Martin Krueger¹, Ingo Bechmann

¹Dr. Senckenbergische Anatomie, Institute of Clinical Neuroanatomy, J W Goethe-University, Frankfurt/Main, Germany.

|June 18, 2009

Summary

Pericytes, cells surrounding capillaries, are crucial for blood-brain barrier integrity and blood flow regulation. Accurate identification methods are essential for understanding their diverse functions in health and disease.

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Area of Science:

Vascular Biology
Cell Biology
Neuroscience

Background:

Pericytes were first described in 1873 and later named by Zimmermann, with ongoing debate about their contractile abilities.
Current understanding highlights pericyte roles in homeostasis, blood-brain barrier integrity, angiogenesis, and neovascularization.
The origin of new pericytes in brain pathology models remains unclear, though bone marrow recruitment is suggested.

Purpose of the Study:

To review historical descriptions and current concepts of pericyte biology.
To outline pericyte topography within vascular compartments.
To describe reliable methods for pericyte identification and summarize their functions.

Main Methods:

Review of original research papers on pericytes.
Analysis of pericyte topography within vascular structures.
Discussion of identification techniques including ultrastructural and semi-thin sections with immunological staining.

Main Results:

Pericytes are defined as cells within the vascular basement membrane, but often confused with adjacent cell types.
Accurate identification is challenging in standard histology but possible at the ultrastructural level.
Immunological staining aids in distinguishing pericyte morphology and location.

Conclusions:

Precise identification of pericytes is critical for comparing research data and understanding their roles.
Pericytes play significant roles in regulating cerebral blood flow, supporting Rouget's initial observations.
Further research is needed to clarify pericyte precursor origins and their full functional spectrum.