Fine Structure Observations of the Uptake of Intravenously Injected Peroxidase by the Rat Choroid Plexus

The uptake by the choroid plexus of adult rats of intravenously injected horseradish peroxidase has been investigated by electron microscopy. Within 4 min, the injected protein passes the capillary and is rapidly distributed through extracellular space and choroidal cells. Peroxidase enters the choroidal cells within coated vesicles which act as pinocytotic vesicles. At 15 min, peroxidase activity is present in numerous membrane-bound vesicles, multivesicular bodies, dense bodies and what appear to be segments of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. None of the peroxidase-containing organelles is seen to empty to the ventricular surface. Egress of the extracellular peroxidase into the cerebrospinal fluid is apparently blocked by apical zonulae occludentes between the choroidal cells.