Proteoglycans in the microvasculature. I. Histochemical localization in microvessels of the rabbit eye.

The ultrastructural organization of ruthenium red (RR) stainable material within small blood vessels located in the limbus of the rabbit eye was studied. Proteoglycans were identified in this material by digesting tissues with Streptomyces hyaluronidase, testicular hyaluronidase, chondroitinase ABC, or heparinase before ruthenium red staining. Neuraminidase digestion enabled separate identification of sialoglycoprotein. The luminal surface of endothelial cells demonstrates an RR-stained glycocalyx containing both sialoglycoprotein and proteoglycans, which are removed by testicular hyaluronidase and crude heparinase. The basal coat of endothelial cells and small granules (10-20 nm in diameter) located within the basal lamina stain with RR and are removed only by crude heparinase. The surface coat of smooth muscle cells and small granules (10-20 nm) within their basal laminas are also digested by crude heparinase. Large proteoglycan granules (20-50 nm), which are completely removed by testicular hyaluronidase and partially digested by Streptomyces hyaluronidase, are deposited between the connective tissue fibers of the media and adventitia. Other large granules that are attached to collagen fibers contain enzyme-resistant anionic materials. The surface coat of adventitial fibroblasts is removed only by crude heparinase. Thin filaments (3-5 nm in diameter) interconnect the cell coat material, basal lamina granules, and large connective tissue granules, to form a network of proteoglycans that traverses the intima, media, and adventitia. The highly ordered arrangement of proteoglycans in the microvascular wall suggests that these macromolecules play several roles in microvascular function.