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Fig. 4 | Critical Care

Fig. 4

From: Three-dimensional ultrastructure of capillary endothelial glycocalyx under normal and experimental endotoxemic conditions

Fig. 4

Scanning electron microscopy showing glycocalyx in continuous, fenestrated, and sinusoidal capillaries under septic conditions. a Ultrastructure of continuous capillaries in the heart under septic conditions. a1 Continuous capillary without lanthanum nitrate staining. Thickening of the endothelial wall is presumed to be due to edematous changes related to inflammation. a2, a3 Lanthanum nitrate staining to visualize the endothelial glycocalyx. a3 Expanded view of the area within the red rectangle in (a2). The endothelial glycocalyx is peeled away from the surface of endothelial cells, and the residue is found inside the vascular lumen (white arrow). b Ultrastructure of glomerular capillaries under septic conditions. b1 Fenestrated capillary without lanthanum nitrate staining. Destruction of the small pore structure is observable. In addition, the endothelial wall appears edematous. b2, b3 Lanthanum nitrate staining to visualize the endothelial glycocalyx. b3 Expanded view of the area within the red rectangle in (b2). Glycocalyx is cast off from the endothelial cells, and the residue of it exists inside the vascular lumen (white arrow). c Ultrastructure of hepatic sinusoids under septic conditions. c1 Sinusoid without lanthanum nitrate staining. The large pores are nearly completely occluded (white arrow). c2, c3 Visualized glycocalyx within sinusoids. c3 Expanded view of the area within the red rectangle in (c2). The sinusoidal endothelial glycocalyx is peeled away from the endothelial cells, and the residue is present inside the vascular lumen (white arrow)

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