| First Author | Herrnberger L | Year | 2012 |
| Journal | Histochem Cell Biol | Volume | 138 |
| Issue | 5 | Pages | 709-24 |
| PubMed ID | 22782339 | Mgi Jnum | J:203907 |
| Mgi Id | MGI:5529104 | Doi | 10.1007/s00418-012-0987-3 |
| Citation | Herrnberger L, et al. (2012) Lack of endothelial diaphragms in fenestrae and caveolae of mutant Plvap-deficient mice. Histochem Cell Biol 138(5):709-24 |
| abstractText | Plasmalemmal vesicle-associated protein (PLVAP, PV-1) is specifically expressed in endothelial cells in which it localizes to diaphragms of fenestrae, caveolae, and transendothelial channels. To learn about its function, we generated mutant mice that lack PLVAP. In a C57BL/6N genetic background, homozygous Plvap-deficient embryos die before birth and suffer from subcutaneous edema, hemorrhages, and defects in the vascular wall of subcutaneous capillaries. In addition, hearts of Plvap(-/-) embryos show ventricular septal defects and thinner ventricular walls. In wild-type embryos, PLVAP and caveolae with a stomatal diaphragm are present in endothelial cells of subcutaneous capillaries and endocardium, while a diaphragm is missing in caveolae of Plvap(-/-) littermates. Plvap(-/-) mice in a mixed C57BL/6N/FVB-N genetic background are born and survive at the most for 4 weeks. Capillaries of exocrine and endocrine pancreas and of kidney peritubular interstitium were investigated in more detail as examples of fenestrated capillaries. In these vascular beds, Plvap(-/-) mice show a complete absence of diaphragms in fenestrae, caveolae, and transendothelial channels, findings which are associated with a substantial decrease in the number of endothelial fenestrae. The changes in the capillary phenotype correlate with a considerable retardation of postnatal growth and anemia. Plvap(-/-) mice provide an animal model to clarify the specific functional role of endothelial fenestrae and their contribution to passage of water and solutes in different organs. |
