Multiple pathways of capillary permeability

Abstract

Morphological and physiological studies indicate multiple routes for transport across capillary endothelium. However, the identification of the morphological counterparts of specific transport processes (or the assignment of specific transport roles to morphologically identifiable pathways) has been only partly achieved: the contribution of endothelial cell membranes to transport of water and small, lipid-insoluble molecules needs to be evaluated. The identification of the "small pore" pathway for water and lipid-insoluble molecules with the intercellular junctions still remains questionable. The contributions to total macromolecular transport of junctions, single vesicles (pinocytosis, cytopempsis), chains of vesicles, and fenestrae are not yet known.