[Morphologic features of the endothelial lining of the blood vessels and endocardium]

The endothelial lining (EL) of ventricular endocardium and coronary arteries of a dog, minipig and humans, as well as that of the abdominal aorta of a rat and superior vena cava (minipig) was studied using luminescent microscope in the reflected light after staining of the non-fixed tissue with thioflavine-T and argentation. Marked heterogeneity of the endotheliocytes was shown to be both specific and depending on the localization of the cells in the cardiovascular system. Comparative analysis of EL in different animal species and in man, as well as in different parts of the CVS, indicated the relationship between the cellular morphologic features and local hemodynamics.