Abstract
Endothelial cell membranes of rabbit carotid arteries were examined by the freeze-fracture technique. In the normal endothelium the mean densities of membrane-bound vesicles were 75 vesicles/microns 2 on the luminal cell membrane and 102 vesicles/microns 2 on the abluminal membrane. Whilst the vesical openings on the luminal membrane were randomly distributed those on the abluminal membrane were typically ordered in a macular pattern with lines free of vesicles. Tight and gap junctions between endothelial cells were numerous. After stimulating the carotid arteries with weak electrical impulses, a technique used to induce enhanced endothelial permeability and the formation of atheromatous plaques after repeated stimulations (Betz et al. 1985), vesicle openings were reduced to 78 vesicles/microns 2 on abluminal membranes. Membranes on the luminal side and intercellular tight and gap junctions remained unchanged.
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