Surface replicas of aortic endothelium.

Relief casting of critical point-dried aortic endothelium provides high resolution images of the cell surface, revealing details not readily apparent by scanning electron microscopy or conventional transmission electron microscopy. These surface replicas show the cell junction to be highly interfolded. Caveoli are present, although some cells have many while others have few. Moreover, the caveoli appear as shallow pits, suggesting that the opening of the caveolus is filled or covered. Finally, the replicas show other surface details including microvilli and distinct cell surface textures.