The image was made possible by inserting a green fluorescent protein into the tissues that give rise to blood and lymph vessels in an embryonic zebrafish, which is otherwise transparent, and then photographing it under a light microscope. The sentry cells, called fluorescent granular perithelial cells (FGPs), are found only within blood vessels on the brain’s surface, and help protect the brain by engulfing and encasing toxins, cellular waste and microbes in sphere-like structures called vesicles.
The research, by scientists at the US National Institutes of Health and Japan’s National Institute of Genetics, challenges the hypothesis that FGPs were a type of immune cell, instead providing evidence they are produced by endothelial cells within the brain’s blood vessels. Understanding better how these cells work to protect the brain could lead to breakthroughs in preventing or treating age-related decline in human brain function.
Originally published by Cosmos as Sentry cells protect a zebrafish’s brain
Cosmos
Curated content from the editorial staff at Cosmos Magazine.
Read science facts, not fiction...
There’s never been a more important time to explain the facts, cherish evidence-based knowledge and to showcase the latest scientific, technological and engineering breakthroughs. Cosmos is published by The Royal Institution of Australia, a charity dedicated to connecting people with the world of science. Financial contributions, however big or small, help us provide access to trusted science information at a time when the world needs it most. Please support us by making a donation or purchasing a subscription today.