[Ultrastructure of the blood-brain barrier in the cerebral cortex in atherosclerotic dementia].

Ultrastructural changes of blood-brain barrier elements were studied in the cortex of cerebral superior frontal and medial temporal gyri in atherosclerotic dementia. Destructive changes in endotheliocytes, pericytes, basement membrane and increase in number, swelling and edema of astrocyte peduncles with the inconstant approximation of astrocyte body to the capillary basement membrane were demonstrated along with signs of blood circulation decline in cortical capillaries. Lipofuscin and lipids accumulation and aggregation of homogenous material of high electron density, probably plasma proteins, were characteristic for changes in blood-brain barrier in atherosclerotic dementia, which is important in pathogenesis of this type of the disease.