LONGLEY J B, BANFIELD W G, BRINDLEY D C
J Biophys Biochem Cytol. 1960 Feb;7(1):103-6. doi: 10.1083/jcb.7.1.103.
Electron micrographs of the rete mirabile in the medulla of the rat have revealed that the endothelium of the afferent and efferent vessels are markedly different in fine structure. The venous capillaries returning blood from the papilla are lined with a fenestrated endothelium much like that in the peritubular capillaries of the kidney. The arterial capillaries delivering blood to the papilla have an unperforated lining of overlapping endothelial cells with extremely irregular tapered margins. It is pointed out that the organization of particularly the latter vessels suggests that the functional capabilities of these retia go beyond those of a simple diffusion countercurrent exchanger.
大鼠髓质内奇妙网的电子显微镜照片显示，输入血管和输出血管的内皮在精细结构上明显不同。从乳头回流血液的静脉毛细血管内衬有有孔内皮，很像肾脏的肾小管周围毛细血管。将血液输送到乳头的动脉毛细血管有一层由重叠内皮细胞组成的无孔内膜，边缘极不规则且呈锥形。需要指出的是，特别是后一种血管的结构表明，这些奇妙网的功能能力超出了简单扩散逆流交换器的功能能力。
