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. Author manuscript; available in PMC: 2013 Mar 26.
Published in final edited form as: Hear Res. 2011 Aug 23;282(1-2):10–24. doi: 10.1016/j.heares.2011.08.006

Figure 3. Shapes of pericytes on different cochlear microvessels.

Figure 3

The pericytes were double-labeled with a pericyte marker protein: desmin (red), combined with fluorescent indicator for intracellular nitric oxide DAF-2DA (green). Panels A–C show the morphology of a pericyte on a true capillary. The pericyte has a polygonal-shaped cell body (Panel A, 10 sections; interval: 1 µm), relatively few long longitudinal processes, and short, fine circumferential projections (Panel B, 10 sections; interval: 1 µm). Panel C is a merged image of Panels A and B. Panels D–F show the morphology of a pericyte on a precapillary. The pericyte has a “bump-shaped” soma (Panel D, 11 sections; interval: 1 µm) and relatively large processes that encircle the capillary (Panel E, 10 sections; interval: 1 µm). Panel F is a merged image of Panels D and E. Panels G–I show the morphology of a pericyte on a postcapillary. These pericytes have a flattened cell body (Panel G, 11 sections; interval: 1 µm) and short processes encircling the vessel (Panel H, 11 sections; interval: 1 µm). Panel I is a merged image of Panels G and H. Panels J–L show the morphology of a pericyte on a branch point of the postcapillary. The pericyte has a spindle-shaped cell body (Panel J, 10 sections; interval: 1 µm) and long processes distributed over the two branches (Panel K, 10 sections; interval: 1 µm). Panel L is a merged image of Panels J and K