[Study on Mato cells (Mato's FGP cells) under various conditions]

Mato cells are unique macrophagic cells locating in the Virchow-Robin space of cerebral microvessels. They play a significant role in blood brain barrier, and uptake and digest proteinous and lipoidal materials derived from surroundings. They are provided with epitopes of macrophage lineages such as MHC Class II and scavenger receptor. Under pathological conditions, -cerebral injury, hypercholesteremia, hypertension and congenital dysfunction of nerve and some enzymes-induce heavy damages of Mato cells in shape and contents, and some of Mato cells are going into degeneration. Subsequently, the architecture of microvessels is also modified and result in the narrowing of vascular luminae. Finally, the authors discusses these findings referring to the earlier reports of Alzheimer (1913).