Background: Data about the structure and immunohistochemistry of the lenticulostriate arteries (LSAs), although very important for medical research and clinical practice, have been rarely reported in literature. Materials and methods: Fourty serially sectioned LSAs were stained with hematoxilin and eosin, and prepared for immunohistochemistry. Results: Our examination revealed a typical endothelial lining and a narrow subendothelial space with subintimal smooth muscle cells occasionally. The internal elastic lamina was fragmented or absent in the smallest LSAs branches. The media coat, with a mean diameter of 148.5 μm, contained typical smooth muscle cells which formed 14.2 layers on average and showed a positive immune reactions for alfa-actin, desmine, laminin and collagen IV. The thin adventitial coat contained fibroblasts, collagen fibers, and nerve bundles, with the strongest immunopositivity to thyrosin hydroxilase. The immune reactions against CD31 and CD34 proteins, endothelial nitric oxide synthase, S 100 protein, neurofilament protein and synaptophysin, seem to be performed in the LSAs wall for the first time. Similarly, the thickness of the LSAs wall and its coats have never been reported, nor the number of the smooth muscle cell layers. Conclusions: Our results related to the structure and immunohistochemistry of the LSAs could be important in cerebrovascular pathology, neurology and neurosurgery. (Folia Morphol 2013; 72, 3: 210–216)
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