Ultrastructural aspects of capillary function in irradiated bowel. An experimental study in the cat.

Irradiated small intestine of the cat has decreased capillary function measured as capillary filtration. This decrease may be due to changes in capillary permeability or decreased capillary area. An electron microscopic study was carried out to examine whether there were any ultrastructural changes consistent with impaired permeability. Cat ileum was irradiated with doses from 10 to 25 Gy and examined 4 days, 1 month, and 4 months after irradiation. In the acute phase (4 days) degenerative endothelial changes were seen and increased with dose. Congestion and microthrombi were also observed. One month after irradiation endothelial changes were still seen after 20 and 25 Gy, and an aggregation of fibrous matter adjacent to the capillary wall was prominent. The endothelial changes were subtle after 4 months, but the pericapillary and stromal fibrosis increased, and an increasing number of collagen fibrils appeared. Micropores disappeared after 20 and 25 Gy but returned later. Pinocytic vesicles were observed after all doses and intervals. The initial decrease in capillary filtration coefficient after irradiation may partly be due to permeability changes caused by endothelial degeneration, whereas the late decrease parallels the increasing pericapillary fibrosis.