Endothelial cell dysfunction in hyperglycemia: Phenotypic change, intracellular signaling modification, ultrastructural alteration, and potential clinical outcomes

Electron microscopic images of endothelial cells morphology in various vascular beds of streptozotocin-injected mice and hamsters (at 4weeks since induction of diabetes). (a) Aortic endothelium; (b, g, and h) myocardial capillary endothelium; (c) aortic arch endothelium; (d) retinal venular endothelium; (e) femoral artery endothelium; (f and i) capillary endothelium of the retina inner layer. EC, endothelial cell; l, vascular lumen; mvb, multivesicular body; Go, Golgi apparatus; rER, rough endoplasmic reticulum; WPb, Weibel Palade body; f, cytoskeletal filaments; m, mitochondria; bl, basal lamina; c, collagen; ecm, extracellular matrix; CM, cardiomyocyte; SMC, smooth muscle cell. Bars: a, c, e, and g: 0.12μm; b and h: 0.27μm; d: 0.183μm; f and i: 0.081μm.

Proliferative endothelial cells in a myocardial capillary (a) and a brain capillary (b) of streptozotocin-injected hamster (at 4weeks since induction of diabetes). EC, endothelial cell; l, vascular lumen; Go, Golgi apparatus; c, centriol; ecm, extracellular matrix; CM, cardiomyocyte. Bars: a: 0.12μm; b: 0.183μm.