Pericyte of a Teleost Fish: Ultrastructure, Position, and Role in Neoplasia as Revealed by a Fish Model

摘要

The morphology and position of the pericyte, a periendothelial cell, is described for a teleost fish, Cyprinodon variegatus. The cell was found attached to the abluminal surfaces of capillaries, venules, and arterioles of the submucosa of the midgut of the fish. The cell was encompassed by a thin basal lamina, possessed numerous plasmalemmal vesicles, a sole region which contained thinner actin-like filaments and possibly thicker myosin-like filaments, and ranged in form from ovoid to stellate, with long cytoplasmic extensions that partially covered the endothelium of the associated microvessel. The pericyte of C. variegatus has been shown to give rise to hemangiopericytomas. The anatomical position, in relationship to microvasculature in the fish is very similar to other vertebrate pericytes. Limited evidence suggests that small fish species may be excellent study models for further elucidation of pericyte form, function, and role in disease.