Ultrastructure of cerebellar capillary hemangioblastoma. IV. Pericytes and their relationship to endothelial cells.

Electron microscopy and computerized morphometric techniques were employed to examine pericyte ultrastructure and to assess quantitatively their relationship to endothelial cells in five cases of cerebellar capillary hemangioblastoma. A total of 97 cross-sectioned capillary profiles were studied. Pericyte coverage of capillary ranged from 30.2% to 97.3% with a mean value of 68.7%, which is higher as compared with the available data from the cerebral cortex, skeletal and cardiac muscle, and pulmonary capillaries. The higher pericyte coverage of capillary suggests that pericyte is an active component of cerebellar capillary hemangioblastoma and may have a close functional relationship to endothelial cells. Pericytes contained bundles of parallel microfilaments along the adluminal side and in the terminal processes, and exhibited an intimate "peg-and-socket" relationship with endothelial cells, suggesting a contractile function of pericytes and their possible role in regulating capillary lumina and focal blood flow. The finding of abundant micropinocytic vesicles along the abluminal side of the cytoplasmic membrane indicates an active metabolic exchange between pericytes and the interstitium. It is possible that in cerebellar hemangioblastoma pericytes may act as a mechanical and metabolic monitor barrier for endothelial cells.