Critical role of microvasculature basal lamina in ischemic brain injury

Cerebral vascular system can be divided into two categories: the macrovessels and microvessels. The microvessels consist of arterioles, capillaries and venules. There are three basic components in the microvasculature: endothelial cells, basal lamina and end-feet of astrocytes. The basal lamina is situated between the endothelial cells and the end-feet of astrocytes, and connects these two layers together. Damage to the basal lamina causes the dismantlement of microvascular wall structures, which in turn results in increase of microvascular permeability, hemorrhagic transformation, brain edema and compromise of the microcirculation. The present article reviews microvascular changes during ischemic brain injury, with emphasis on basal lamina damage.