Quick-freeze, deep-etch studies of endothelial components, with special reference to cytoskeletons and vesicle structures.

A three-dimensional study of the ultrastructure of endothelial cells is helpful in understanding important endothelial functions such as vascular transport and cell permeability. For this purpose, in addition to serial sectioning electron microscopy and high-voltage electron microscopy, the quick-freeze, deep-etching technique also enables us to analyze structures at the molecular level by its high resolution and is useful for three-dimensional morphological studies. Some modifications on the conventional deep-etching method were made in this study to reduce the undesirable aggregation of proteins and salts during etching. Using this technique, we examined the rat aortic endothelium, particularly the membrane structures and cytoskeletons. The luminal surface of the endothelium was covered with a fine filamentous coat, which was anchored to the plasma membrane. In the cytoplasm, actin filaments were prominent and were oriented randomly or in a parallel fashion near the plasma membrane. Of the vesicles seen in the endothelium, some had basket coats of clathrin, and others had striped coats on the cytoplasmic membrane surface. These surface structures of the vesicles suggest the transport mechanism of the vesicles in association with the fine filaments attached to the vesicles.