The importance of electron microscopy in the study of capillary endothelial cells: an historical review.

The second half of the 20th century has witnessed the birth and growth of biological ultrastructural research in which electron microscopy plays a crucial role. The electron microscope has contributed greatly to biology and medicine, as is clearly indicated by the large number of publications devoted to reporting observations on the fine structure of biological specimens. Ultrastructural studies, initially concerned with macromolecular complexes, had by the mid-1950s revealed a previous unimaginable complexity in the organization of the eukaryotic cell. This review article summarizes the literature data concerning the important role played by the electron microscope in the study and characterization of capillary endothelial cells.