An electron microscopic study of intimal cushions in intracranial arteries of the cat.

Abstract

AbstractSubendothelial protuberances associated with the tunica intima have been described by light microscopy at branching sites of arteries in various animal species. These structures are termed intimal cushions or intimal pads. Some investigators regard them as being pathologic, preceding the appearance of atherosclerosis in the vessel wall. This fine structural study was done because of the possible role of intimal cushions in the regulation of cerebral blood flow at branching sites of intracranial arteries. The internal elastic lamina is split at the margins of a cushion to enclose irregularly arranged bundles of smooth muscle cells and collagenous fibrils. These smooth muscle cells are generally arranged at a right angle to smooth muscle cells in the underlying media. The outermost layer of the internal elastic lamina forms a boundary between the body of the cushion and the media; however, areas of discontinuity cause this border to be poorly defined in some instances. Perivascular autonomic nerves do not extend into either media or intimal cushions. Intercellular contacts between smooth muscle cells are observed within cushions as well as in the media, suggesting that cushions may be contractile and capable of modifying cerebral blood flow.