抄録
The morphological structure of vascular smooth muscle cells was analyzed in rabbit mesentery, using fluorescent images obtained by confocal laser scanning microscopy. The mesentery sections were stained with specific antibodies against myosin. The 3D image of terminal arterioles was reconstructed based on the sliced images. The resultant image shows, the arterioles were ovally collapsed in the transverse section. The arteriolar wall was consisted of spindle shaped endothelial cells aligned along the flow direction; surrounded by a mono-layer of spirally arranged smooth muscle cells. Individual smooth muscle cell surrounded the vessel to the extent of one to one and half loops. In between the smooth muscle spirals, several gaps were observed; while the endothelial cell arranged like a cobblestone. The dimension of the gap was equivalent to one or two smooth muscle cell width.
