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Decorin inhibits endothelial migration and tube-like structure formation: role of thrombospondin-1.

Interactions between endothelial cell receptors and the extracellular matrix (ECM) play a critical, yet poorly understood role in angiogenesis. Based on the anti-adhesive role of decorin, we hypothesized that decorin binding to ECM molecules such as thrombospondin-1 (TSP-1) plays a regulatory role in endothelial tube-like structure (TLS) formation. To test this hypothesis, endothelial cells were plated on TSP-1, decorin, or mixed substrates of TSP-1 plus decorin. TLS formation was induced by applying type I collagen on the confluent endothelial monolayer. Cartilage decorin inhibited the formation of TLSs in a concentration-dependent manner. On substrates of high decorin concentrations (2.5 and 5.0 microg/cm(2)) the reduction in TLSs was due either to a reduction in the number of adhering cells or to decreased cell migration. At low decorin concentrations (0.05 and 0.25 microg/cm(2)) the reduction in TLSs was independent of the number of attached cells. Time-lapse video microscopy revealed that decorin substrates facilitated homotypic aggregation and isolated cord formation at the expense of endothelial migration and TLS formation. Consistent with the reduced migration, endothelial cells formed fewer vinculin-positive focal adhesions and actin-stress fibers on decorin substrates. Endothelial migration and TLS formation were also significantly inhibited by skin decorin and the protein core of cartilage decorin. The inhibition of TLS formation by the protein core of cartilage decorin was potentiated by TSP-1. These findings suggest that decorin alone or in combination with TSP-1 interferes with the activation of endothelial cell receptors by ECM molecules, thus blocking intracellular signals that induce cytoskeletal reorganization, migration, and TLS formation.

Cartilage↗

Remodeling of the leptomeningeal microvascular plexus in neonatal rats.

In order to better understand the mechanisms of cerebrovascular development and differentiation, the leptomeningeal microcirculation was analyzed using in vivo fluorescence video-microscopy in neonatal (1, 9, and 12 day old) Sprague-Dawley rats. The pattern of flow distribution was reconstructed, the location of radially emerging intracortical veins was identified and the minimum distance between these vessels was measured. We found no AV connections in the leptomeningeal vasculature of the neonatal rat in all examined animals. The LVP in the neonatal period of life is a venous system and probably does not serve as a major source of oxygen supply to cerebral tissue. After birth, the number of radial vessels does not increase, suggesting that intracortical vascularization continues by the branching of existing radial vessels.

Aging↗

Regulation of oxygen supply in the cerebral circulation.

The dynamics and regulation of red blood cell flow in the cerebral microcirculation was studied by intravital fluorescence video-microscopy in a closed cranial window preparation in the rat. The studies revealed that capillary perfusion in the brain is essentially continuous but a stationary difference from capillary to capillary within the same microvascular network exists. The main mechanism of an increase in flow in cerebral capillaries is an increase in linear velocity with no or minor role for classical capillary recruitment. While cyclic opening and closing of capillaries is not evident, low frequency oscillations in capillary flow velocity are present when perfusion or oxygen supply to tissue is challenged. In hypoxic hypoxia and moderate hypercapnia, RBC velocity increases in all capillaries while in severe hypercapnia, redistribution of RBC velocity in the capillary network occurs. Both systemic hypotension and severe hypercapnia are accompanied by an increase in the homogeneity of capillary flow; this change involves the redistribution of RBC flow between thoroughfare channels and exchange capillaries. Thoroughfare channels may thus provide a recruitable flow reserve in the cerebral microcirculation. The capillary flow response to hypoxic and anemic hypoxia depends on the activity neuronal nitric oxide synthase. These findings suggest the presence of a physiological regulatory mechanism of cerebral capillary red blood cell flow and oxygen supply which may involve neuronal nitric oxide as a mediator.

Animals↗

Red blood cell flow cessation and diameter reductions in skeletal muscle capillaries in vivo - the role of oxygen.

When perfusion pressure is reduced, red blood cell flow in the capillaries of skeletal muscle ceases at a positive pressure difference across the vascular bed, while arterioles dilate and venules are not constricted. This flow cessation (i.e., cessation of red blood cell flow) and luminal diameter changes in capillaries following femoral arterial pressure reduction were investigated in the rabbit tenuissimus muscle in situ (n = 42) using intravital video microscopy. Arterial pressure was reduced by occlusion of the aorta distal to the renal arteries. During the experiments, leg and muscle were placed in a sealed box. The muscle was exposed to low PO2 by leading a gas mixture deprived of O2 through the box. Locally at the muscle surface, i.e., under the microscope objective, PO2 was varied by varying the PO2 in the superfusion solution. In all experiments, the remainder of the muscle was kept at low (< 20 mm Hg) PO2. The incidence of flow cessation was virtually zero at low local (< 20 mm Hg) PO2 and became almost 100% at local values above 70 mm Hg. Initial equivalent capillary diameters were 3.1-5.8 microm (median 4.0 microm) and did not correlate with local O2 tension. During aorta occlusion, capillary diameters significantly (P < 0.0001) decreased by a median value of 8% at all local PO2 values; in 14 out of 54 capillaries local diameter became less than 2.8 microm. The extent of diameter reduction did not correlate with PO2. In the 14 capillaries in which the diameter became less than 2.8 microm flow cessation occurred in only four cases. The minimal diameter reached was always at the site of an endothelial nucleus. The capillary diameter reductions are probably due to passive recoil. In the 48 capillaries in which flow ceased, only in four cases did a red blood cell stop at the site of the nucleus. We conclude that capillary diameter reductions (local and generalized) lead to a considerable increase in capillary resistance which contributes to the occurrence of flow cessation but cannot solely explain it.

Animals↗

Injury-induced remodelling and regeneration of the ribbon presynaptic terminal in vitro.

The neuronal response to axonal injury may relate to the type of insult incurred. Recently, neuritic and presynaptic varicosity regeneration by isolated adult salamander photoreceptors was demonstrated. We have used this system to compare the rod photoreceptor response to two types of injury: denervation/detargeting, the removal of pre- and postsynaptic partners from the axon terminal, and axotomy, the removal of the axon terminal itself. Cells were followed with time-lapse video microscopy for 24-48 h in culture and immunolabelled for SV2 or synaptophysin to identify synaptic vesicle-containing varicosities. Although all injured cells responded with regenerative growth, denervated/detargeted photoreceptors (i.e. neurons which retain their axon terminal) grew 80% more processes and fourfold more presynaptic varicosities than axotomized neurons. In cells which retained their original axon and terminal, varicosity formation generally began with axon retraction. Retraction was followed by elaboration of a lamellipodium and, by 48 h, development of varicosity-bearing neurites from the lamellipodium. Synaptic vesicle protein localization in denervated/detargeted cells paralleled axon terminal reorganization. Axotomized cells, in contrast, lacked synaptic vesicle protein immunoreactivity during this period. To detect synaptic protein synthesis, photoreceptors were examined for colocalization of synaptic vesicle protein with rab6, a Golgi marker, by confocal microscopy. As expected, synaptic vesicle protein staining was present in the Golgi complex during regeneration; however, in cells with an axon, new synaptic vesicle protein-labelled varicosities were found at early stages, prior to the appearance of immunolabel in the Golgi complex. The data demonstrate remarkable plasticity in the ribbon synapse, and suggest that in adult rod cells with an intact axon terminal, synaptic vesicle protein synthesis is not a prerequisite for the formation of new presynaptic-like terminals. We propose that preexisting axonal components are reutilized to expedite presynaptic renewal as an early response to denervation/detargeting.

Ambystoma↗

Tyrosine kinase activation in LPS stimulated rat Kupffer cells.

Kupffer cells, a majority of the body's fixed macrophages, are a major site of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) metabolism and are mediators in the body's response to sepsis. Uptake of LPS is different in Kupffer cells than other macrophages. Signal transduction in other macrophages in response to LPS involves phosphorylation of proteins in the 50-60 kDa range. We hypothesized that Kupffer cells may have unique signal transduction pathways in response to LPS. Rat Kupffer cells were exposed to LPS (1 microgram/mL) for varying times ranging from 15 to 90 min. Cell lysates were Western blotted using an anti-phosphotyrosine antibody. The blots showed an increase in the amount of tyrosine phosphorylation on two proteins of 119 kDa and 83 kDa. The effects of varying LPS concentration (1 ng/mL-1 microgram/mL) showed an increasing amount of phosphorylation with increasing LPS concentration. To associate the importance of tyrosine phosphorylation in the response of Kupffer cells to LPS, the tyrosine kinase inhibitors, tyrphostin, lavendustin, and genisten were used to study the effects of inhibiting phosphorylation on TNF-alpha production. Kupffer cells were preincubated in the presence of the inhibitor and exposed to LPS (1 microgram/mL). TNF-alpha was measured in the conditioned media by ELISA. A 70% or greater decrease in TNF-alpha production was observed. When phagocytosis of latex beads by rat Kupffer cells was measured in vivo using intravital video microscopy, LPS treatment significantly increased uptake. This increase in phagocytosis was inhibited by tyrphostin. These results show what may be unique phosphorylation events in Kupffer cells that are related to LPS induced production of TNF-alpha.

Animals↗

A quantitative assay for intercellular aggregation.

In an earlier communication (Munn et al., J Immunol. Methods 166: 11-25, 1993), we presented the initial development of a quantitative assay for monitoring the rates of cellular aggregation based on digital image processing and video microscopy. This study describes some important enhancements and modifications to the procedure. A new index is introduced to characterize the three-dimensional morphology of the aggregates. This index is based on temporal changes in the projected area of the cells and cell aggregates during the course of the experiment. By drawing an analogy with the kinetic theory of gases, we have also introduced a procedure to normalize for variations in cell seeding density among different experiments. In addition, the image analysis technique has been improved by introducing a background subtraction algorithm to remove illumination defects and an adaptive segmentation procedure. These improvements allowed us to completely automate the image analysis procedure, thus minimizing user intervention and improving the reproducibility of the measurements. The enhanced visual assay is evaluated using some recent results from our studies on homotypic lymphocyte aggregation.

Cell Aggregation↗

Increased vulnerability of newly forming beta cells to cytokine-induced cell death.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: Beta cell destruction in type 1 diabetes is apparently mediated by the release of cytokines. We questioned whether cytokine-induced apoptosis preferentially kills replicating beta cells. MATERIALS AND METHODS: In the first experiment, rat insulinoma (RIN) cells were studied for 36 h by time-lapse video microscopy. Cells were exposed to three doses of a cytokine mixture (maximal concentration: IL-1beta 50 U/ml; TNF-alpha 1,000 U/ml; IFN-gamma 1,000 U/ml) or vehicle and analysed for the total cell number (2-h intervals) and timing of each cell death and division. In the second experiment, isolated human islets were incubated with the same cytokine mixture for 24 h and examined for replication and paired (postmitotic) apoptosis. RESULTS: In the first experiment, after application of cytokines, apoptosis occurred most frequently immediately after the next or subsequent cell mitosis (p<0.05). In the second experiment, cytokines caused increased apoptosis in human islets, with an increase in the proportion of postmitotic apoptotic pairs (p<0.001). CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Cytokine-induced beta cell death preferentially affects newly forming beta cells, which implies that replicating beta cells might be more vulnerable to cytokine destruction. Efforts to expand beta cell mass in type 1 diabetes by fostering beta cell replication are likely to fail unless cytokine-induced apoptosis is concurrently suppressed.

Apoptosis↗

Under which conditions do the skin and probe decouple during sinusoidal vibrations?

Previous experiments performed on monkey and human fingertips suggested that the skin surface and stimulus probe decouple for sinusoidal displacements applied perpendicularly to the skin surface. From these observations, it was concluded that sinusoidal vibration may not be a suitable stimulus for understanding and modeling the tactile system. We repeated these experiments on human observers using stimulus frequencies ranging from 0.5 to 240 Hz and with displacement amplitudes up to 1 mm peak-to-peak (p-p). The skin and probe movements were measured in the steady-state using stroboscopic illumination and video microscopy. Contrary to previous conclusions, we found that decoupling did not occur for amplitudes less then 0.25 mm p-p, regardless of stimulus frequency. Decoupling was only observed for stimulus amplitudes greater than 0.25 mm over the stimulus-frequency range investigated. To further investigate this effect, a modified stimulus contactor was used, which permitted the measurement of the skin's movement using reflected light. Measurements were made on both the index fingertip and the thenar eminence. Regardless of body site, no decoupling between the skin and stimulus probe was observed for frequencies ranging from 20 to 100 Hz up to displacements of 0.25 mm p-p. These levels are well within the range used in most human psychophysical experiments performed on these parts of the body. We conclude that sinusoidal vibration can be used reliably to stimulate the tactile system and is an appropriate stimulus for developing models of touch.

Fingers↗

Ca2+ uptake through voltage-gated L-type Ca2+ channels by polarized enterocytes from Atlantic cod Gadus morhua.

The presence and localization of voltage-gated Ca2+ channels of L-type were investigated in intestinal cells of the Atlantic cod. Enterocytes were loaded with the fluorescent Ca2+ probe, fure-2/AM and changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentrations ([Ca2+]i) were measured, in cell suspensions, in the presence of high potassium levels (100 mm), BAY K-8644 (5 microM), nifedipine (5 microM) or omega-conotoxin (1 microM). L-type Ca2+ channels were visualized on intestinal sections using the fluorescent dihydropyridine (-)-STBodipy. Depolarization of the plasma membrane produced a rapid (within 5 sec) and transient (at basal levels after 21 sec) increase in [Ca2+]i. BAY K-8644 increased the [Ca2+]i by 7.2%. Cells in a Ca2+-free buffer increased [Ca2+]i after addition of 10 mm Ca2+, and this increase was abolished by nifedipine in both depolarizing and normal medium but not by omega-conotoxin. Single cell experiments using video microscopy revealed that enterocytes remained polarized several hours after preparation and that the Ca2+ entry and extrusion occurred at specific and different regions of the enterocyte outer membrane. Fluorescent staining of L-type Ca2+ channels in the intestinal mucosa showed the most intense staining at the brushborder membrane. These results demonstrate the presence of voltage gated L-type Ca2+ channels in enterocytes from the Atlantic cod. The channels are mainly located at the apical side of the cells, and there is a polarized uptake of Ca2+ into the enterocytes. This suggests that the L-type Ca2+ channels are involved in the transcellular Ca2+ entry into the enterocytes.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗

Changes in caridac output and hemolymph flow during hypoxic exposure in the gravid grass shrimp, Palaemonetes pugio.

The cardiovascular response of decapod crustaceans to hypoxic exposure is well documented; however, information is limited concerning the influence of reproductive state on cardiovascular demands during hypoxic exposure. Given the additional metabolic demand of reproduction, we investigated the cardiovascular adjustments employed by gravid grass shrimp Palaemonetes pugio to maintain oxygen delivery during hypoxic stress. Cardiac output values were elevated in gravid compared to nongravid grass shrimp. Gravid grass shrimp were exposed to hypoxia and the stroke volume, heart rate, cardiac output and hemolymph flow were determined using video-microscopy and dimensional analysis. Oxygen consumption rates were determined using respirometry. There where no changes in the cardiac output values of gravid females until reaching 6.8 kPa O2, with a significant redistribution of hemolymph flow at 13.7 kPa O2. Flow was significantly decreased to the anterior lateral arteries that supply the ovaries and hepatopancreas, the anterior aorta and the posterior aorta. The redistribution of hemolymph flow away from these vessels results in an enhanced hemolymph flow to the sternal artery that supplies the ventral segmental system, the gills, the buccal apparatus and the ventral nerve cord. The data suggest that during hypoxic stress, gravid females place a priority on survival.

Animals↗

Persistent and selective effects of inflammation on smooth muscle cell contractility in rat colitis.

Intestinal inflammation affects smooth muscle contractility contributing to altered motility, but changes to the individual smooth muscle cells are not well described. We used video microscopy to study the contractility of circular smooth muscle cells (CSMC) isolated from the rat mid-descending colon throughout the course of TNBS-induced colitis, measuring their shortening response to carbachol (CCh), 5-HT, histamine or high K(+). In control CSMC, CCh caused a maximal shortening response of 28 (2%), similar to that for 5-HT of 27 (1%), but by day 4 of colitis, these responses were decreased by 35% and 37%, respectively. By day 36, all aspects of cholinergic contraction returned to control levels, while 5-HT-induced contraction remained significantly attenuated. In contrast, the contractile responses to histamine remained similar at all time points. K(+)-induced contraction was impaired only on day 4, and the maximal response remained substantially greater than CCh or 5-HT. Colitis caused a 121% increase in CSMC length by day 2 that persisted through day 36, independent evidence for phenotypic change. We conclude that impaired CSMC contractility at both the receptor and non-receptor levels contribute to altered smooth muscle function during colitis. Persistent changes in contractile response remained detectable after resolution of inflammation, and similar events may occur in post-enteritis syndromes seen in humans.

Animals↗

Evolutionarily conserved nuclear migration genes required for early embryonic development in Caenorhabditis elegans.

The nudF and nudC genes of the fungus Aspergillus nidulans encode proteins that are members of two evolutionarily conserved families. In A. nidulans these proteins mediate nuclear migration along the hyphae. The human ortholog of nudF is Lis1, a gene essential for neuronal migration in the developing cerebral cortex. The mammalian ortholog of nudC encodes a protein that interacts with Lis1. We have identified orthologs of nudC and Lis1 from the nematode Caenorhabditis elegans. Heterologous expression of the C. elegans nudC ortholog, nud-1, complements the A. nidulans nudC3 mutant, demonstrating evolutionary conservation of function. A C. elegans nud-1::GFP fusion produces sustained fluorescence in sensory neurons and embryos, and transient fluorescence in the gonad, gut, vulva, ventral cord, and hypodermal seam cells. Fusion of GFP to C. elegans lis-1 revealed expression in all major neuronal processes of the animal as well as the multinucleate spermathecal valves and adult seam cells. Phenotypic analysis of either nud-1 and lis-1 by RNA interference yielded similar phenotypes, including embryonic lethality, sterility, altered vulval morphology, and uncoordinated movement. Digital time-lapse video microscopy was used to determine that RNAi-treated embryos exhibited nuclear positioning defects in early embryonic cell division similar to those reported for dynein/dynactin depletion. These results demonstrate that the LIS-1/NUDC-like proteins of C. elegans represent a link between nuclear positioning, cell division, and neuronal function.

Animals↗

Intracellular changes in astrocytes and NG 108-15 neuroblastoma X glioma cells induced by advanced glycation end products.

INTRODUCTION: The extracellular effects caused by advanced glycation end products (AGEs) themselves formed by the Maillard-reaction from proteins and sugars, are well known. Less is known about the effects of AGEs on cellular function. Cellular dysfunctions accumulate with increasing age and can be found as a pathogenetic principle of different diseases where AGEs are involved. The causal mechanisms of these cellular dysfunctions are not fully understood. MATERIAL AND METHODS: AGEs effects were examined in cell culture using video microscopy, immunohistochemistry, flow cytometry and biochemical methods in neural (NG 108-15) and glial (primary culture of astrocytes) cells. RESULTS: AGEs can bind to the cell surface of neural and glial cells. AGEs induce an altered distribution of vesicles and a statistically significant reduction in the velocity of microvesicles. The proteins dynamin 2 and clathrin, which are an important part of the transport apparatus, show changes in intracellular distribution similar to that of microvesicles. The immunoreactivity of dynamin 2 in AGE-treated cells is increased after AGE-incubation. After incubation durations of 2 h, 6 h and 12 h we found an increase (maximum +34.6%) of the relative fluorescence intensities of dynamin 2 in the AGE-BSA treated cells in comparison to the control cells (BSA). Using flow cytometry we found a minimal increase (14.4%) in clathrin immunoreactivity after 2 h incubation with 500 nM AGE-BSA. The non-quantitative western blot showed no difference of the electrophoretic behaviour of both dynamin 2 and clathrin in AGE-BSA-incubated cells (2 h, 500 nM) and in control cells (2 h, 500 nM BSA-incubation). The incubation with AGE-BSA up to a concentration of 500 nM in culture was not followed by apoptotic or necrotic cell death. DISCUSSION: We could show defined effects on the cells induced by incubation with AGEs. One of the effects is a significant reduction of the velocity of microvesicles, the reason for this is unclear. It could be due to disturbed calcium metabolism or caused by microtubuli-changes. The aggregation of intracellular microvesicles could be the result of an altered binding-behaviour of the vesicles or the destruction of the transport apparatus. The proteins dynamin 2 and clathrin, which are involved in transport apparatus, show changes in intracellular distribution indicating a breakdown of the normal cellular distribution system. The current results may contribute to the understanding of the pathologic processes in the cell in Mb. Alzheimer and other neurodegenerative diseases, where AGEs-accumulation can be found in tissues.

Animals↗

Effects of Cerebrolysin on the outgrowth and protection of processes of cultured brain neurons.

Cerebrolysin (Cere, EBEWE Arzneimittel, Austria), a peptidergic drug produced by a standardised enzymatic breakdown of porcine brain proteins, consists of a mixture of 75% free amino acids and 25% low molecular weight peptides (<10 k DA). Cerebrolysin was shown to protect against MAP2 loss in primary embryonic chick neuronal cultures after brief histotoxic hypoxia and in a rat model of acute brain ischemia. Since MAP2 is involved in processes like neuronal growth, plasticity and dendritic branching, we address the question whether Cere is protecting processes against degeneration in a chronic low serum (2% FCS) cell stress model and whether the spontaneous outgrowth of axon-like processes is influenced. This was accomplished by quantification of the neurite lengths of embryonic chicken telencephalon neurons after 4 and 8 days. Additionally, time-lapse video microscopy was performed to study a possible influence of Cere on the growth cone behaviour of axon-like processes. To distinguish between effects caused by the peptide fraction and the effects related to free amino acids, we used an artificial amino acid solution (AA-mix). Results demonstrate a process outgrowth promoting effect of the AA-mix and Cere after 4 DIV. After 8 days neuronal network degeneration occurred in the AA-mix treated cultures, whereas Cere treated cultures still presented a well differentiated neuronal network. Dying neurons could release factors possibly impeding neurite outgrowth and Cere was shown to increase the viability of chicken cortical neurons. Neither the addition of BDNF nor serum supplementation (5% and 10% FCS) could protect the neuronal network against degeneration after 8 DIV, although these treatments were shown to ameliorate the viability of chicken telencephalon neurons. This result together with the finding obtained using the artificial amino acid solution points to the peptide fraction of Cere to be responsible for the protection of processes against degeneration. Time-lapse studies of Cere treated cultures revealed a significant decrease of the velocities characterising random growth cone movements, which is thought to be responsible for an increase in the length of axon-like processes after 4 DIV.

Amino Acids↗

Melittin-induced membrane permeability: a nonosmotic mechanism of cell death.

Derived from honeybees, melittin is a 26-amino acid, alpha-helical, membrane-attack protein that efficiently kills mammalian cells. To investigate the contribution of colloid-osmotic effects to the mechanism of cell death, we studied the effect of melittin on lymphocyte membrane permeability and cell volumes. Melittin concentrations of 0.5 to 2.0 microM induced release of membrane permeability markers without total disruption of the cell membrane. At these melittin concentrations, electrical-impedance cytometry demonstrated melittin-induced changes in red blood cell volumes (P<0.01), but no change in lymphocyte cell volumes (P>0.05). Streaming video microscopy, obtaining images of melittin-treated lymphocytes at 80-ms intervals, demonstrated a loss of optical density (P<0.001) suggesting a flattening of the cell but no significant increase in cell perimeter (P>0.05). Real-time multiparameter flow cytometry of melittin-treated lymphocytes confirmed simultaneous loss of the cytoplasmic marker, calcein, and uptake of the DNA dye, ethidium homodimer, but demonstrated no increase in forward light scatter. Transmission-electron microscopy of melittin-treated lymphocytes showed normal cell volumes but discontinuities in the cell membrane suggesting direct membrane toxicity. We conclude that melittin causes lymphocyte death by a "leaky patch" mechanism that is independent of colloid-osmotic effects.

Animals↗

Relationship of vascular thrombosis and inflammatory leukocyte infiltration to neointimal growth following porcine coronary artery stent placement.

BACKGROUND: Superficial and intramural thrombosis are reproducible histopathological features of the porcine coronary oversized stent injury model. Fibrin and its degradation products are chemotactic for mononuclear leukocytes, and promote the proliferation and migration of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) in vitro. The goal of this study was to quantitate the serial histomorphologic evolution of thrombosis, leukocyte infiltration, VSMC proliferation and collagen accumulation following porcine coronary artery stent placement in a porcine model. METHODS: Twenty-four normocholesterolemic swine underwent oversized balloon (3.5-4.0 mm) coronary angioplasty and tantalum metal stent placement. Twenty-six different arterial sites were injured, followed by serial sacrifice at day 4 (n = 6), 8 (n = 6), 14 (n = 6), and 28 (n = 6). Quantitative analysis of the neointima was performed using a high resolution video-microscopy interface and a validated histomorphometric software program. Alpha actin-positive VSMC density (per 10(4) micro(2) neointimal area) and collagen-specific picro-sirius red fluorescence (percent of neointima) were quantitated at sites adjacent to and distant from coronary artery stent placement. RESULTS: The percent of total neointimal area occupied by resolving thrombus material was greater at days 4-8 compared to 14-28 days (59-63% vs. 1-2%; P = 0.001). Mononuclear leukocytes were also significantly increased at days 4 and 8 (92 +/- 1 and 70 +/- 8%) compared to days 14-28 (both 3 +/- 3%; P = 0.001), as a percentage of the total neointimal cellularity. Total neointimal cell density did not change (20 +/- 10, 12 +/- 6, 23 +/- 7 and 20 +/- 3 cells/10(4) micro(2); P-value, NS), despite progressive cross-sectional vascular area stenosis reduction from 7 +/- 3% at day 4 to 72 +/- 14% at day 28 (P = 0.001). Percent neointimal fibrinoid thrombus content and mononuclear leukocyte cellularity were correlated in this model (R = 0.81; P < 0.001). Peri-stent neointimal collagen staining exceeded that at vascular sites distant from porcine coronary stent placement by 14 days (29 +/- 6 vs. 15 +/- 3%), and remained greater at 28 days (35 +/- 11 vs. 16 +/- 12%) (both P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Quantitative serial histomorphometry of porcine coronary vascular stent delivery sites demonstrates early (4-8 day) neointimal mononuclear leukocyte infiltration which is histomorphologically and temporally related to intramural fibrinoid thrombosis. Significant vascular stenosis and collagen deposition occurs by 14-28 days at these vascular injury sites. These data suggest a local interaction between thrombotic and inflammatory elements in porcine coronary neointima following oversized stent injury.

Angioplasty, Balloon↗

Behaviour of fibroblasts during initial attachment to a glass-ceramic implant material in vitro: a time-lapse video-micrographic study.

The in vitro behaviour of 3T3 fibroblasts plated on a glass-ceramic implant material, Apoceram, and on tissue culture polystyrene (TCP) was monitored using phase-contrast, time-lapse video microscopy and scanning electron microscopy. Significant differences were observed in the short-term cellular response to TCP and Apoceram in the timing of the fibroblasts' morphological changes, with earlier spreading and stabilization of the cells occurring on TCP. Cell surface ruffling activity was greater on the glass-ceramic, reflecting weaker adhesions to the substratum. The experimental method used facilitates direct analysis of the dynamic activity of cells attaching to artificial substrata.

Animals↗