Specific endothelial granules in venous patch neoendothelium in the rat.

Weibel-Palade bodies were observed in the neoendothelium and capillaries of vasa vasorum of autologous 'venous patches' grafted in the common carotid artery of the rat. These corpuscles varied in number and distribution but were most frequently found in the luminal area of endothelial cytoplasm. In venous patch neoendothelium, the shape, size and substructure of Weibel-Palade bodies were similar to those in other types of vascular endothelium. These specific endothelial granules were more numerous during the week following neoendothelium formation. It is proposed that these corpuscles may play a role in the proliferation of endothelial cells in venous patches.