THE PERIVASCULAR CONNECTIVE MATRIX

The functional properties of the perivascular matrix facilitate the mo vement, protection and the nutrition of the blood vessels. At the same time the matrix deliniates the vessels to the organs. Different vascu lar diseases of the vascular system implicate the perivascular matrix consisting of a network of structural and cellular connective tissue c omponents. Impairment of its structural integrity predominantly occurs either from primary or secondary affections. Monospecific antibodies directed against different structural proteins enable detailed histomo rphological examinations of the inflammatory tissue reaction in the pe rivascular space. Since myofibroblasts, fibrocytes, endothelial cells, and macrophages participate in tissue repair mechanisms, in vitro stu dies on the collagen synthesis may contribute to the understanding of the perivascular tissue reaction according to injury. The present repo rt summarizes perivascular diseases and the in vitro synthesis of proc ollagen, collagen, and fibronectin of endothelial cells, fibroblasts, smooth muscle cells, and macrophages.