Biomedical subjects

F N Miller

Publications and source records attributed to F N Miller.

At least 55 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1995

Spontaneously hypertensive rats are resistant to the development of hypercholesterolemia.

The arterioles of young spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) are purported to have an enhanced sensitivity to nitric oxide (NO)-dependent vasodilators, relative to normotensive animals, while NO-related arteriolar responses are diminished in both mature SHR as well as hypercholesterolemic normotensive rats. Because endothelial production of NO relaxes vascular smooth muscle and inhibits platelet adhesion and aggregation, hypercholesterolemia may synergistically affect the development of genetic hypertension. The NO-mediated baseline vascular tone, acetylcholine-induced dilation, and inhibition of platelet thrombus formation were studied over time (10 weeks) in SHR and hypercholesterolemic SHR (HC-SHR). The in vivo microcirculation of the cremaster muscle was used to quantitate all observations. The HC-SHR became significantly hypercholesterolemic after 1 week on the cholesterol-supplemented diet, with serum cholesterol concentrations remaining elevated for the 10 weeks studied. However, the serum cholesterol concentrations of HC-SHR were significantly less than those of Sprague-Dawley and Wistar-Kyoto rats fed the same diet. Dietary hypercholesterolemia did not exacerbate the development of genetic hypertension. Second- and third-order arterioles of SHR and age-matched HC-SHR constricted to the same extent when the NO synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was applied. The third order arterioles of both groups also dilated the same amount to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside. Platelet thrombus formation induced by light/dye photochemistry was not different between the SHR and HC-SHR groups either at 1 or 10 weeks of diet, and L-NAME decreased the time to thrombus occlusion of blood flow equally in both groups. This is in marked contrast to the previously reported hypercholesterolemia-induced decreases in vascular reactivity in Sprague-Dawley rats. These current findings demonstrate that SHR are resistant to the development of hypercholesterolemia and that NO-mediated vascular responses in SHR are not attenuated by hypercholesterolemia.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1995

Pentoxifylline inhibits FMLP-induced macromolecular leakage.

The acute inflammatory responses to the chemotactic peptide N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP) and the effects of pentoxifylline (PTXF) on the responses in vivo were studied. We used intravital microscopy with rat cremaster muscle preparation to determine inflammatory responses of microcirculation. Macromolecular leakage from postcapillary venules was evaluated by quantifying the extravasation of fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated to bovine serum albumin. FMLP induced a rapid increase in macromolecular leakage, an increase in leukocyte-endothelium adhesion, and a decrease in blood flow in the microcirculation. PTXF inhibited FMLP-induced responses in a dose-dependent manner but failed to block the histamine-dependent leakage induced by compound 48/80. In addition, diphenhydramine, a histamine-receptor blocker, did not affect the macromolecular leakage induced by FMLP. The cell-permeable adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) analogue N6,2'-O-dibutyryladenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate mimicked PTXF's effects on the microcirculation and also inhibited FMLP-induced macromolecular leakage. PTXF is known to inhibit phosphodiesterase and increase intracellular cAMP, which modulates functions of endothelial cells, smooth muscle cells, and neutrophils in vitro. Our findings suggest that FMLP induces acute inflammatory responses through activation of neutrophils, independent of endogenous histamine release, and that PTXF inhibits these responses through elevated intracellular cAMP.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

A role for dietary copper in nitric oxide-mediated vasodilation.

OBJECTIVE: This study was designed to investigate the role of dietary copper in nitric oxide-mediated arteriolar dilation. METHODS: Male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a purified diet that was either copper-adequate (6.0 micrograms Cu per g diet) or copper-deficient (0.3 microgram Cu per g diet) for a period of 4 weeks. Each rat was anesthetized with pentobarbital and its cremaster muscle was positioned in a Krebs'-filled bath to which graded concentrations of vasoactive agents were added. In the first series, responses to norepinephrine (NE 10(-9)-10(-6) M) and acetylcholine (ACH 10(-7)-10(-4) M) were compared in third-order arterioles. Second, the dilator response to 10(-5) M ACH in the absence and presence of 240 U/ml Cu, Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) was determined. Third, arteriolar dilation was determined in response to NO-independent stimulation of soluble guanylate cyclase with hydrogen peroxide (10(-7)-10(-5) M) and to dibutyryl cGMP (10(-6)-10(-4) M), dibutyryl cAMP (10(-6)-10(-4) M), and papaverine (10(-4) M). RESULTS: The arteriole constrictor response to NE and the dilator response to hydrogen peroxide, dibutyryl cGMP and cAMP, and papaverine were not different between the dietary groups. Copper deficiency attenuated the ACH-induced dilation, but the response was restored in the presence of SOD. CONCLUSIONS: The inactivation of cytosolic Cu, Zn-SOD by restriction of dietary copper results in the depression of NO-mediated vascular smooth-muscle relaxation probably by interaction of NO with superoxide.

Animals↗

PubMed1995

Hemostatic mechanisms in marginally copper-deficient rats.

Severe dietary copper restriction has been shown to alter platelet structure and function and to significantly delay thrombogenesis and hemostasis in rats. In the present study, the relationship between dietary copper status and hemostasis were determined in the rat cremaster muscle microcirculation. Male, weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a purified diet that was made copper-adequate by addition of 6.0 micrograms copper/gm of diet (CuA) or was marginally deficient by adding 1.5 micrograms (CuM1.5) or 3.0 micrograms (CuM3.0) copper/gm of diet for 1, 3, or 5 weeks. The rats were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital, and the cremaster was spread in a Krebs'-filled tissue bath. Hemostasis was quantified after two methods of thrombus induction: (1) micropuncture of a 60 to 80 microns venule, which exposes subendothelial structures, and (2) intravascular light-dye photochemistry, which does not expose the subendothelial collagen. The CuM1.5 and CuM3.0 diets significantly decreased hepatic copper after 3 weeks as compared with the CuA diet. Bleeding time after micropuncture was significantly longer at all times in the CuM1.5 group and after 5 weeks in the CuM3.0 group. Platelet thrombus formation and time to vessel occlusion in the light dye-treated vessels were not different between any of the dietary groups at any times tested. There was also no difference in prothrombin time (PT), in the activity of copper-related plasma coagulation factors V and VIII, or in the hematocrit between the CuA and CuM1.5 groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Interleukin-8 suppresses the toxicity and antitumor effect of interleukin-2.

The clinical application of interleukin-2 (IL-2) for the treatment of certain human malignancies has shown promise. However, the use of IL-2 in immunotherapeutic protocols has been limited due to its associated toxicities. The administration of therapeutic doses of IL-2 results in a vascular leak syndrome with associated multiple system organ edema, hypotension, and respiratory, renal, and hepatic dysfunction. Previous studies suggest that the mechanism of these toxicities involves the activation of both immune effector cells and the microvascular endothelium with resultant leukocyte-vessel wall interaction, endothelial cell injury, and subsequent invasion of normal tissues by activated leukocytes. Recently it has been demonstrated that interleukin-8 (IL-8) will inhibit leukocyte adherence to an activated endothelium. Thus, we hypothesized that IL-8 would ameliorate IL-2-evoked detrimental effects. We also investigated the influence of IL-8 on IL-2-induced antitumor efficacy. Four groups of nontumored, female, C57BL/6 mice and four groups of C57BL/6 mice with pulmonary metastases from a 3-methylcholanthrene-induced fibrosarcoma (MCA-105) were treated every 6 hr for 4 days by intraperitoneal injections of IL-2 alone, IL-2 and IL-8, IL-8 alone, or an equal volume of saline which served as our control. Upon completion of therapy, we found that IL-8 suppressed many of the IL-2-induced effects including multiple organ edema, hepatic dysfunction, leukopenia, and lymphocytic infiltration of normal organs. When the number of pulmonary metastases were counted 20 days after the cessation of therapy. IL-8 was also found to significantly ablate the IL-2-elicited antitumor efficacy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Interleukin-2-induced lymphocyte infiltration of multiple organs is differentially suppressed by soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) mediates the regression of metastatic cancer, but clinical application is restricted by associated toxicities. Previous studies implicate tumor necrosis factor (TNF) as an important mediator of certain IL-2-induced toxicities. We hypothesized that soluble TNF receptor (sTNFr), a TNF antagonist, would alter lymphocyte trafficking into normal tissues and ameliorate IL-2-induced toxicity. Four groups of C57BL/6 mice were treated for 4 days with intraperitoneal injections of 100,000 IU IL-2 alone, 100,000 IU IL-2 and 30 micrograms sTNFr combined, 30 micrograms sTNFr alone, or equal volumes of saline. Animal activity was graded and blood obtained for SGPT and SGOT. At necropsy, organs were harvested for wet:dry ratios as a measurement of organ edema. The lung, liver, and thymus were examined histologically for lymphocytic infiltration and graded on a scale of 1 to 5. IL-2-treated groups had a statistically significant increase in organ edema, lymphocytic infiltration into the lung and liver, liver enzyme elevation, and pancytopenia when compared with controls. Soluble TNFr significantly suppressed IL-2-induced pulmonary lymphocytic infiltration and associated serum lymphopenia without significant alteration of other IL-2-induced effects. These data implicate TNF as a mediator of the pulmonary lymphocytic infiltration and of lymphopenia that accompanies IL-2 therapy and further suggest that alternative mechanisms are involved in other IL-2-induced deleterious effects.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Tumor necrosis factor causes microvascular protein leakage independently of neutrophils or mast cells.

Tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) has been implicated as an important mediator in the development of multiple system organ failure after either severe injury or infection. Using the rat cremaster muscle, we previously showed that systemically administered TNF-alpha caused hypotension, tachypnea, and microvascular protein leakage in association with leukocyte-endothelial adherence. In the current study, we hypothesized that topical administration of TNF-alpha to the cremaster muscle would cause microvascular protein leakage independent of changes in hemodynamic parameters. In addition, histological methods were used to study the role of neutrophils and mast cells in the TNF-alpha-induced microvascular protein leakage. Topically applied low-dose (1 ng/ml) TNF-alpha caused microvascular leakage in the cremaster, without changes in central hemodynamic parameters, but high-dose TNF-alpha (10 ng/ml) did not cause protein leakage. Histological studies did not demonstrate evidence of either neutrophil adhesion or mast cell degranulation in topically applied TNF-alpha-treated cremasters compared to controls. These data suggest that TNF-alpha-induced macromolecular leakage is a dose-dependent phenomenon which can occur independently of neutrophils or mast cell degranulation.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Involvement of nitric oxide and cyclooxygenase products in photoactivation-induced microvascular occlusion.

Photoactivation of intravascular dyes with high doses of light is a technique used clinically to treat tumors. This procedure results in arteriolar constriction, mast cell degranulation, platelet thrombus formation, and, ultimately, microvascular stasis. In vivo microscopy was utilized in the current study to examine if the endothelial release of prostaglandins and nitric oxide could participate in the microvascular effects of photoactivation. Diameter changes and thrombus formation of arterioles and venules of the cremaster muscle of male Sprague-Dawley rats were quantitated during continuous light activation of intravascular fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated to bovine serum albumin. Vasoconstriction and thrombus development were assessed separately, using the relationships between the width of the red blood cell column, the inner wall diameter, and the thickness of the plasma layer. Venular photoactivation resulted in thrombus growth which reached 30% of the maximum size by 16.8 +/- 3.71 min and a subsequent growth rate of 6.2 +/- 1.64 microns/min. In arterioles, 30% thrombus growth occurred at 14.0 +/- 2.02 min with a growth rate of 3.0 +/- 0.57 microns/min. Continuous arteriolar photoactivation led to a vasoconstriction of 34.4 +/- 6.87% of the initial vessel diameter. Thirty percent of the maximal constriction occurred after 10.6 +/- 1.26 min of photoactivation. Constriction proceeded at a rate of 3.8 +/- 1.32 microns/min. Topically applied mefenamic acid (a cyclooxygenase inhibitor) and Nw-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor) each enhanced both the arteriolar and the venular thrombus growth due to photoactivation. Photoactivation-induced arteriolar constriction was augmented by L-NAME and inhibited by mefenamic acid. These data suggest that the photoactivation of intravascular dyes is accompanied both by the release of nitric oxide, which inhibits thrombus development and arteriolar constriction, and by the release of cyclooxygenase products, which inhibit thrombus growth and induce vasoconstriction. Rats treated with busulfan to induce thrombocytopenia exhibited a 90% decrease in circulating platelets. In these animals, photoactivation caused significantly delayed thrombus growth in arterioles and venules, while arteriolar constriction remained unaltered, suggesting that the vasoconstrictor prostanoid is not of platelet origin.

Amino Acid Oxidoreductases↗

PubMed1994

The role of the mast cell in acute inflammatory responses of copper-deficient rats.

Macromolecular leakage associated with mast cell degranulation was studied in the cremaster muscle microcirculation of copper-deficient rats. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a purified diet either adequate for copper (6 micrograms copper/gram diet) or deficient (no added copper) 4 weeks prior to experimentation. The rats were anesthetized and the cremasters (with nerve and blood supply intact) were spread in a tissue bath filled with Kreb's solution. In vivo television microscopy was used to observe the microcirculation. Intravascular fluorescein isothiocyanate conjugated to bovine serum albumin was injected and interstitial fluorescent emission intensity was used as an index of macromolecular leakage. Topical administration of the mast cell degranulator compound 48/80 (1.0 and 10.0 micrograms/ml) induced a significantly greater macromolecular leakage in the copper-deficient animals. The compound 48/80 leakage was blocked in both groups of rats by pretreatment with diphenhydramine which is a histamine H1 receptor blocker. Topical administration of the inflammatory mediators histamine, serotonin, and bradykinin all induced macromolecular leakage which was not significantly different between groups. These results suggest that copper deficiency increases macromolecular leakage associated with mast cell degranulation by a primary effect on the mast cell rather than on the endothelium.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Platelet thrombus formation and hemostasis are delayed in the microcirculation of copper-deficient rats.

The role of dietary copper in platelet thrombus formation and hemostasis was studied in the cremaster muscle microcirculation. Male weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed purified diets that were either copper-adequate (94 mumol Cu/kg diet) or copper-deficient (0 mumol Cu/kg diet) for 1, 3 or 5 wk. The rats were anesthetized with pentobarbital, and the cremaster was spread in a Krebs-filled tissue bath. Fluorescein isothiocyanate tagged to bovine serum albumin (FITC-BSA) was injected intra-arterially. After a 20-min equilibration, blue light (1.8 W/cm2, 450-490 nm) was used to activate the FITC-BSA and induced platelet thrombus formation within the vasculature. In vivo television microscopy was used to quantify the thrombus formation. In rats fed the copper-deficient diet for 3 or 5 wk, platelet thrombus formation induced by photoactivation was significantly (P < 0.05) delayed and prothrombin time was significantly longer but the number of circulating platelets was significantly greater than in age-matched rats fed the copper-adequate diet. Bleeding time, measured after micropuncture of a second-order venule, was significantly longer but hematocrit was significantly lower in rats fed the copper-deficient diet than in those fed the copper-adequate diet. The results demonstrate that platelet-mediated hemostasis is depressed in dietary copper deficiency and that this may be due to a decrease in hematocrit, a decrease in the activity of a coagulation factor and/or an alteration of platelet function.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Dietary copper deficiency increases the mast cell population of the rat.

Mast cell-released histamine has been implicated in the enhanced acute inflammatory response of copper-deficient rats. The present study examined possible changes in the copper-deficient mast cell which may account for increased macromolecular leakage and edema formation. Mast cell populations were determined in the cremaster muscle of copper-adequate and copper-deficient rats. Total histamine content, unstimulated histamine release and concentration-dependent histamine release with the mast cell secretagogue compound 48/80 were also determined in isolated peritoneal mast cells. A significantly higher number of mast cells were found in the cremaster muscle of the copper-deficient rats (78 +/- 7 cells/5 microns section) than in the copper-adequate controls (51 +/- 4). Total histamine content per cell as well as unstimulated and stimulated release of the inflammatory mediator per cell were not different between the groups. The results suggest that dietary copper deficiency increases the mast cell population but does not alter the mast cell histamine content or sensitivity to degranulation in the rat. This increase in the number of mast cells may be a mechanism by which acute inflammation is enhanced in copper deficiency.

Animals↗

PubMed1994

Interleukin-2 alters the positions of capillary and venule pericytes in rat cremaster muscle.

Interleukin-2 (IL-2) mediates regression of metastatic cancer, but its therapeutic efficacy has been limited by toxicities which occur secondarily to IL-2 induced macromolecular leakage from microvessels. Previous studies have indicated that pericytes function in an endothelial cell junction-dependent manner in lung capillaries and cremaster muscle venules, possibly to limit cellular and macromolecular leakage. The purpose of this investigation was to determine if pericyte positioning on skeletal muscle capillaries was junction-related, and if it was altered by IL-2. Anesthetized rats received intravenous injections of fluoroscein isothiocyanate conjugated to albumin. The cremaster muscle model of microcirculation was used in conjunction with intravital fluorescence microscopy to monitor changes in interstitial fluorescence which was used as an index of macromolecular leakage. IL-2 induced a progressive increase in interstitial albumin which started within 30 min of application and continued to increase until the end of the experiment at two hours. Cremaster muscle tissue was fixed and prepared for examination by transmission electron microscopy. A digitizing platter and morphometric software were used to quantify pericytes near vs away from endothelial cell junctions of capillaries and venules. In microvessels from animals in the control group, pericytes were randomly positioned on capillaries, and concentrated at endothelial cell junctions of venules. After treatment with IL-2, capillary pericytes were concentrated at junctions. Venular pericyte density also increased in endothelial junctional regions. IL-2 appears to alter the distribution of pericytes in the microcirculation, perhaps by induction of contraction.

Animals↗

PubMed1993

Tumor necrosis factor mediates disseminated intravascular inflammation (DII) in the genesis of multiple organ edema.

Multiple system organ failure (MSOF), resulting from a diffuse overwhelming inflammatory response, is frequently the cause of death in patients suffering either severe injury or infection. Previous studies have demonstrated increased circulating levels of tumor necrosis factor with both severe injury and infection. In addition, the intravenous administration of tumor necrosis factor (TNF) has been shown to induce systemic responses similar to those seen in patients with MSOF. The data from in vitro studies suggest that TNF-mediated events at the level of the microcirculation may be primary in the genesis of multiple system organ edema and dysfunction. We hypothesized that the intravenous administration of TNF would acutely induce alterations in the microcirculation that were associated with the development of multiple organ edema and cardiorespiratory impairment. The cremaster microcirculation model was used to quantitate changes in microvascular indices. We directly observed increased numbers of firmly adherent leukocytes to the microvascular endothelium and quantitated decreased leukocyte rolling along the surface of the endothelium as leukocytes became firmly adherent following TNF injection. This TNF-mediated leukocyte-endothelial adherence was also associated with the development of microvascular protein leakage. TNF also acutely induced arteriolar vasodilation and increased microvascular blood flow. These changes in microvascular parameters were associated with the synchronous development of TNF-mediated multiple organ edema and cardiorespiratory impairment. These data support the hypothesis that TNF acutely mediates disseminated intravascular inflammation resulting in multiple organ edema and subsequent hemodynamic instability.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Interleukin 2 acutely induces platelet and neutrophil-endothelial adherence and macromolecular leakage.

The acute effects of interleukin 2 (IL-2) were determined in the rat cremaster microcirculation model by intravital, light, and electron microscopy to better understand the pathophysiology of the IL-2-induced vascular leak syndrome. Four groups of rats were studied over a 2-h monitoring period. One group received 1 x 10(6) units of IL-2/kg i.v. (n = 10), while the remaining groups received IL-2 topically applied to the cremaster muscle in dosages of either 1 x 10(5) (n = 9), 1 x 10(6) (n = 5), or 3 x 10(6) (n = 5) units. Each group was compared with controls (n = 9). IL-2 administered i.v. acutely induced platelet and polymorphonuclear leukocyte-endothelial adherence and microvascular macromolecular leakage that occurred synchronous with the development of tachycardia, hypotension, tachypnea, and hypoxemia. Topically applied IL-2 induced similar microvascular alterations but without changes in hemodynamic and respiratory parameters, which suggests that microvascular alterations were not caused by IL-2-induced changes in hemodynamic parameters. Electron microscopy of cremaster muscle sections demonstrated platelet and neutrophil adherence to the endothelium and endothelial injury. We conclude that IL-2 (or a locally generated mediator) acutely induces platelet and neutrophil-endothelial adherence in the rat skeletal muscle microcirculation that is associated with the development of macromolecular leakage from the microcirculation.

Administration, Topical↗

PubMed1992

Mast cell degranulation inhibits IL-2-induced microvascular protein leakage.

The therapeutic efficacy of interleukin-2 (IL-2) in the treatment of cancer has been limited by a "vascular leak syndrome" and related toxicities. To better understand the pathophysiology of the "vascular leak syndrome," we tested a hypothesis that mast cell degranulation mediated the acute increase in microvascular protein leakage seen immediately following IL-2 administration. After the cremaster muscle was prepared for intravital microscopy, anesthetized Sprague-Dawley rats were injected with fluorescein isothiocyanate-labeled albumin for fluorescent microscopy. Animals were treated by the intravenous injection of IL-2 (1 x 10(6) U/kg) (n = 6), the control IL-2-vehicle (n = 5), or IL-2 (1 x 10(6) U/kg) after mast cell degranulation with compound 48/80 (n = 6). Relative interstitial fluorescent intensity was quantitated by a computerized image analysis system as an index of microvascular protein leakage. IL-2 acutely induced protein leakage from the microcirculation. Mast cell degranulation with 48/80 prior to IL-2 treatment prevented protein leakage, but did not alter IL-2-induced leukocyte-endothelial adherence. These data suggest that mast cell-mediated events may be responsible for the acute increase in microvascular permeability seen with IL-2 administration and that leukocyte-endothelial adherence alone is not solely responsible.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Differentiation of light-dye effects in the microcirculation.

Activation of photosensitive compounds has been used in the treatment of tumors and as a technique to study various microcirculatory phenomena. This technique may be accompanied by deleterious effects which may complicate interpretations of experimental results. However, the relevant physiological mechanisms that induce toxicity and the light doses needed to produce different toxic reactions have not been well defined. In the current study, the rat cremaster muscle preparation was used with in vivo fluorescent television microscopy and subsequently with electron and light microscopy to evaluate toxic reactions of light activation of fluorescein isothiocyanate. The most sensitive photoactive reactions were macromolecular leakage and platelet activation, occurring with 120 J/cm2 activation energy. Macromolecular leakage was at least partially restricted by perivenular and pericapillary pericytes and there was no morphological damage with this light dose. Since macromolecular leakage was significantly inhibited by pretreatment with diphenhydramine or Compound 48/80, it is in part due to the release of histamine from tissue mast cells. 720 J/cm2 reduced the red blood cell column in the venules by over 50% due to platelet thrombus formation, an effect that was accentuated by pretreatment with indomethacin. This suggests an inhibitory role of prostaglandins in platelet thrombus formation. In addition, 720 J/cm2 caused endothelial and smooth muscle cell swelling and ruptures, gap formation, and leukocyte and protein accumulation in the vessel walls.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1992

Short-term dietary copper deficiency does not inhibit angiogenesis in tumours implanted in striated muscle.

The effect of dietary copper deficiency on tumour growth, neovascularisation and microvascular integrity was studied in the rat cremaster muscle. Male, weanling Sprague-Dawley rats were fed purified diets which were copper deficient (< 0.5 micrograms g-1 of diet) or copper adequate (5 micrograms g-1 of diet). Seven days after initiation of diets, a chondrosarcoma was implanted in the cremaster muscle of each rat. Five, 10 or 20 days after tumour implantation, rats were anesthetised and their cremasters prepared for observation by intravital microscopy. Intraarterial injection of fluorescein isothiocyanate-conjugated albumin and subsequent observation of fluorescence in the perivascular space indicated no difference in microvascular albumin leakage between the tumour vasculature of copper deficient and copper adequate rats. Neither tumour growth (assessed by wet weight), vascular density (assessed by light microscopy), nor any ultrastructural characteristics of the tumour or its vasculature (assessed by electron microscopy) were affected by copper deficiency. In view of findings by others which indicate changes in tumour characteristics with copper deficiency, we conclude that the copper dependency of tumour growth and vascularisation is a function of the type of tumour, the host tissue, or the conditions of copper depletion.

Animals↗

PubMed1992

Copper deficiency alters vasodilation in the rat cremaster muscle microcirculation.

The effects of copper deficiency on smooth muscle relaxation were studied in the cremaster muscle microcirculation. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed either a copper-adequate diet (CuA, 5 micrograms copper/g diet) or copper-deficient diet (CuD, no added copper) for 17-27 d before experimentation. In vivo television microscopy was used to quantify agonist-induced diameter changes in third-order arterioles. Endothelium-dependent relaxation, which is hypothesized to be mediated by nitric oxide, was attenuated by copper deficiency. Both receptor (acetylcholine, 10(-7) to 10(-4) mol/L) and nonreceptor (calcium ionophore A23187, 10(-8) to 10(-7) mol/L) relaxation was decreased. Nitric oxide-mediated dilation, which was endothelium-independent (10(-7) to 10(-5) mol/L sodium nitroprusside), was also attenuated by copper deficiency. Maximal responses were as follows: for acetylcholine, 136 +/- 16% CuA vs. 45 +/- 15% CuD; for A23187, 104 +/- 16% CuA vs. 21 +/- 11% CuD; and for nitroprusside, 125 +/- 12% CuA vs. 46 +/- 13% CuD. There was no difference in microvascular dilation between groups treated with 10(-6) to 10(-4) mol/L of the phosphodiesterase inhibitor papaverine (e.g., CuA 109 +/- 11% vs. CuD 133 +/- 21% with 10(-4) mol/L). These results suggest that copper deficiency inhibits the nitric oxide-mediated mechanism of vascular smooth muscle relaxation without altering the capacity of the smooth muscle to relax. We suggest that copper deficiency either decreases nitric oxide radical availability or disrupts the nitric oxide-guanylate cyclase interaction.

Acetylcholine↗