Isolated Brain Microvessels: Preparation, Morphology, Histamine and Catecholamine Contents

Abstract

A method for the rapid preparation of parenchymal microvessels from rat, rabbit and bovine brains is described. Light and electron microscopic examination of the isolated microvessels showed the smooth muscle and endothelial cells to be intact and substantially free of neutrophil contamination. The observation of 0.2 to 2.0 µm electron dense granules in the adventitial space associated with some of the isolated arteriolar elements and the identification of histamine in microvessel extracts is suggestive of the presence of mast cells in the microvessel preparations. Age-dependent changes in histamine content and an increased histamine content in microvessels from hypertensive rats were noted. Using a sensitive radioenzymatic assay, the catecholamine (CA) contents of microvessels isolated from cow, rat and rabbit were measured. The total CA contents of all microvessel preparations were small (<0.35 µg g^–1) with norepinephrine being the predominant CA present. A large ratio of dopamine to norepinephrine was found in microvessels from rat and bovine brain. The possible origins of the CAs present in the isolated microvessels are discussed.