Fine three-dimensional structure of pericytes in the vocal fold mucosa.

An investigation was carried out to determine the fine three-dimensional structure of pericytes in excised human vocal fold mucosa, by means of scanning and transmission electron microscopic observation. The results are summarized as follows. 1) There were many pericytes around the true capillaries, arterial capillaries, and venous capillaries in the vocal fold mucosa. 2) Newborns had pericytes around the capillaries in the vocal fold mucosa. 3) The pericytes had bulged fusiform or polygonal cell bodies and branching processes. The branching processes consisted of long and relatively thick longitudinal ones and short circumferential ones. 4) The cell body and processes of the pericytes encircled the capillaries, and the tips of the processes formed intercellular tight junctions with endothelial cells and made a firm connection with them. 5) The pericytes had many cytoplasmic filaments. 6) The pericytes in the vocal fold mucosa appeared to support and protect capillary walls in the vibrating tissue.