ELECTRON-IMMUNOCYTOCHEMISTRY OF PEPTIDES IN ENDOTHELIAL-CELLS OF RABBIT CEREBRAL VESSELS FOLLOWING PERFUSION WITH A PERFLUOROCARBON EMULSION

This study describes the localization of endothelin-1-, vasopressin- a nd substance P-like immunoreactivity in a subpopulation of endothelial cells of the basilar and posterior communicating arteries of the (i) normal rabbit brains and (ii) rabbit brains perfused with a perfluoroc arbon emulsion (PFC). Following perfusion with the PFC at increased fl ow the endothelial cell ultrastructure appeared normal, although there was a decrease of immunoreactivity to these peptides. This suggests t hat these peptides may be involved in endothelial control of blood flo w in cerebral vessels.