The Biology of Caveolae: Lessons from Caveolin Knockout Mice and Implications for Human Disease

Caveolar endocytosis of BSA-conjugated gold is blocked in Cav-1-deficient lung endothelial cells. In the wild-type sample (A), caveolae open to the lumen (L) of the blood vessel are indicated by small arrows; large arrows indicate internalized caveolae. Arrow heads indicate gold particles in the lumen. In the Cav-1-deficient sample (B), caveolae do not form and gold particles therefore remain in the lumen.