ILLUSTRATION
Pericyte on Capillary
Pericytes are contractile cells with a “spider-like” shape found on the outside of the small vasculature. Pericytes play important roles in regulating capillary blood flow and are also responsible for maintaining permeability of the blood-brain barrier.
Robert Lue, Director of Life Sciences Education, Professor of the Practice of Molecular and Cellular Biology, Harvard UniversityWe have received a tremendously enthusiastic response from students, both in freshman biology and sophomore cell biology courses.