Search PubMed⌕ Search

SEARCH · Search PubMed

Results for “ENDOTHELIUM”

Search indexed PubMed citations on genomics, clinical trials, systematic reviews and public health. Explore titles, authors and supplied subject terms, then open the PubMed record.

Quote a phrase for an exact phrase match. Source license links do not imply unrestricted reuse.

At least 1,009 records · Page 56Linked to original sources
PubMed1998

Dual effect of cobra cardiotoxin on vascular smooth muscle and endothelium.

AIM: To assess the cytotoxic effects of cobra cardiotoxin (CTX) on rat aorta. METHODS: Measure of contractility of aortic rings with or without endothelium. RESULTS: In endothelium-intact rings, CTX 10 mumol.L-1 induced a transient relaxation followed by a sustained contraction. Removal of the endothelium or pre-incubation of the rings with NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) abolished the transient relaxation but did not affect the magnitude of the contractile response induced by CTX. CTX itself induced contraction of vascular smooth muscle but also reduced contractions induced by phenylephrine (PhE) or KCl stimulation in a concentration-dependent manner. Contraction induced by CTX was dependent on the external Ca2+ concentration. Maximal contractile response to CTX was obtained in medium containing Ca2+ 1 mmol.L-1. This response decreased with higher Ca2+ concentration and disappeared when Ca2+ 7 mmol.L-1, organic and inorganic calcium channel blockers were present in the external solution before CTX addition. In preparations with the endothelium intact and incubated with CTX, relaxation by acetylcholine (ACh) stimulation of the tension induced by PhE was decreased. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to ACh was preserved when Ca2+ 5 mmol.L-1 was added to the medium prior to CTX. CONCLUSION: CTX first triggers the release of NO from the endothelium which results in muscle relaxation, and then causes smooth muscle contraction, Ca2+ and Ca2+ channel blockers prevented the effect of CTX.

Animals↗
PubMed1999

Acute administration of 17beta-oestradiol does not improve endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in young men.

Studies have recently demonstrated that long-term oestrogen therapy improves endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation in the conductance vessels of biological males. We sought to determine if an acute single dose of oestrogen might similarly improve vasodilator function in young males. In a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, crossover study, we compared the effects of 1 mg of sublingual 17beta-oestradiol (E(2)) and placebo on endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilatation in the brachial artery using a non-invasive ultrasound technique. We recruited 30 young males based on a power calculation. Neither acute sublingual oestrogen nor placebo affected flow-mediated vasodilatation [5.32+/-0.78% and 5.28+/-0.60% respectively (mean+/-S.E.M.), P=0.94]. Responses to nitroglycerine were similar after oestrogen or placebo (16.01+/-0.86% and 15.29+/-1. 19%, P=0.47). Basal blood flow and flow during reactive hyperaemia did not differ after oestrogen or placebo. Heart rate and blood pressure were similar during both treatment phases of the study. The absolute change in serum oestradiol levels was greater after the oestrogen treatment phase than after placebo (1509+/-87 versus -13+/-4 pmol/l, P<0.0001). Despite achieving supra-physiological oestradiol levels, the acute administration of sublingual E(2) does not appear to improve endothelium-dependent or endothelium-independent vasodilatation, at least acutely, in the brachial artery of young males. In keeping with our previous study, these data suggest that a period of oestrogen 'priming' (possibly to induce receptor-mediated nitric oxide synthesis) may be required to yield an improvement in vascular function in males.

Adult↗
PubMed1999

L-type Ca2+ channels are not involved in coronary endothelial Ca2+ influx mechanism responsible for endothelium-dependent relaxation.

Effects of L-type Ca2+ channel blockers on intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) changes evoked by the stimulations which cause endothelium-dependent relaxation were examined in freshly isolated pig coronary endothelial cells using fura-2 fluorescent analysis. Substance P and bradykinin produced endothelium-dependent relaxations of pig coronary arteries. The relaxations were inhibited significantly but not completely by N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) or aspirin, suggesting that nitric oxide (NO), prostacyclin (PGI2) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) were involved in the responses. Both substance P and bradykinin elevated coronary endothelial [Ca2+]i in a biphasic manner: An initial transient increase was observed within a minute, which was followed by the subsequent sustained increase declining with time. In the medium without Ca2+, substance P-induced elevation of [Ca2+]i was markedly reduced. L-type Ca2+ channel blockers (nicardipine, diltiazem and verapamil) did not affect substance P-induced increase in endothelial [Ca2+]i. In consistent with this finding, Bay k 8644 failed to increase [Ca2+]i in partially depolarized endothelial cells. In contrast, substance P-induced elevation of endothelial [Ca2+]i was suppressed in high K+ solutions. These findings indicate that: (1) Substance P and bradykinin relax pig coronary artery via production/release of NO, PGI2 and EDHF from the endothelium; (2) The synthesis and release of these endothelium-derived factors are accompanied by an increase in endothelial [Ca2+]i; (3) Activation of L-type Ca2+ channels is not involved in coronary endothelial elevation of [Ca2+]i responsible for the production/release of these endothelium-derived factors. L-type Ca2+ channel blockers seem to be advantageous in the application for the disorders of coronary circulation with respect to that they do not prevent endothelial function to produce/release of endogenous vasorelaxants.

Analysis of Variance↗
PubMed2000

Tumor endothelium-specific transgene expression directed by vascular endothelial growth factor receptor-2 (Flk-1) promoter/enhancer sequences.

The receptor tyrosine kinase Flk-1 plays a pivotal role in the development of the vascular system and in the vascularization of a wide variety of tumors. We have investigated the activity of cis-acting sequences of the murine Flk-1 gene in the tumor endothelium of experimental tumor models in vivo. B16 melanoma, BFS-1 fibrosarcoma, and polyoma middle T-induced mammary adenocarcinoma were grown in transgenic mice that express the LacZ reporter gene under the control of a 939-bp Flk-1 promoter fragment and an enhancer element located in a 2.3-kb fragment of the first intron. In all experimental tumor models examined, strong endothelium-specific reporter gene expression was observed while being absent from most blood vessels in normal adult tissue. The expression patterns of the LacZ reporter gene correlate well between established tumors grown in Flk1-LacZ transgenic mice and tumors grown in Flk-1+/LacZ knock-in mice that express the LacZ reporter gene from the endogenous Flk-1 locus. The endothelium-specific activity of the Flk-1 promoter/enhancer sequences in three different experimental tumor models demonstrates that the regulatory sequences that mediate the up-regulation of Flk-1 in the tumor endothelium are contained in the Flk-1 promoter/enhancer sequences used, and that these elements function relatively independently of the tumor type. The Flk-1 promoter/enhancer sequences should allow the analysis of the signaling pathways that lead to the up-regulation of Flk-1 in the tumor endothelium and to specifically target therapeutic genes to the endothelium of tumors for antiangiogenic tumor therapy.

Adenocarcinoma↗
PubMed1999

Hyperpolarization caused by serotonin contributes to endothelium-dependent relaxations in the porcine coronary artery.

AIM: The present study was designed to investigate the contribution of membrane hyperpolarization to endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by serotonin in the porcine coronary artery. METHODS: Rings with and without endothelium of porcine coronary arteries were suspended in conventional organ chambers for the measurement of isometric force. The cell membrane potential of the vascular smooth muscle cells was measured using glass microelectrodes, in the presence of indometacin, ketanserin, and/or N omega-nitro-L-arginine. RESULTS: Serotonin induced a transient endothelium-, and concentration-dependent relaxation in rings contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha in the presence of N omega-nitro-L-arginine (maximal relaxation: 19%). The N omega-nitro-L-arginine resistant relaxation was abolished by high K+ and tetrabutylammonium chloride. Serotonin also caused an endothelium-, concentration-dependent membrane hyperpolarizations with a maximal amplitude of -8.8 mV. The nitro-L-arginine resistant relaxations and hyperpolarizations were abolished by methiothepin, but not by glibenclamide. The time course of the endothelium-dependent relaxations and hyperpolarizations was similar. CONCLUSION: These results suggest a contribution of cell membrane hyperpolarization to the endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by serotonin in the porcine coronary artery.

Animals↗
PubMed2002

Increased expression of NOS and ET-1 immunoreactivity in human colorectal metastatic liver tumours is associated with selective depression of constitutive NOS immunoreactivity in vessel endothelium.

The absence of perivascular nerves in tumour vessels suggests that endothelium derived vasoactive substances [nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin-1 (ET-1)] may be key factors in controlling tumour blood flow during tumour growth and metastasis. We have studied the ultrastructural distribution and immunoreactivity of different NO synthase (NOS) isoforms and ET-1 in human colorectal metastatic liver tumour tissues using pre-embedding peroxidase-anti-peroxidase and post-embedding immunoelectron microscopic triple gold labelling techniques. Dramatically lower NOS 1 immunoreactivity was observed in tumour vascular endothelium (1-3% and 15-20% in tumour and normal groups, respectively). As compared to control groups there were significantly less NOS3 immunopositive EC in metastatic tumour vessels (45-50% and 1-3% in normal and tumour groups, respectively). A striking rise in NOS2 was observed in tumour vessel endothelium (< 1% in normal and 65-70% in tumour vessel endothelium). ET-1 immunoreactivity levels were also significantly higher in tumour vessel endothelium (85-90% in tumour, 15-20% in normal group). This increased expression of NOS2 and ET-1 immunoreactivity was accompanied by the increased expression of three NOS isoforms and ET-1 immunoreactivity in liver parenchymal cells. These data suggest that metastatic tumour vessel endothelium is characterized by increased expression of NOS2 and ET-1 and by decreases in NOS1 and NOS3. These characteristics are associated with the overexpression of all three NOS isoforms and ET-1 immunoreactivity in non-vascular cells.

Aged↗
PubMed2002

Ability of sickle cells to scavenge endothelium-derived nitric oxide is reduced.

AIM: To assess the ability of sickle cells to interfere with the release or transfer of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) in comparison to normal erythrocytes. METHODS: A perfusion-superfusion bioassay system was used a canine carotid artery with endothelium (donor of EDRF) and a ring of the same vessel without endothelium (detector) were separated by tubing resulting in a five second interval for transfer of EDRF from donor to detector. Changes in isometric tension were monitored in both the donor and the detector preparations. Release of EDRF, as determined by sustained relaxations during the contractions to phenylephrine, was induced by infusing acetylcholine through the donor artery. RESULTS: Superfusion with normal and sickle erythrocytes caused impairment of the endothelium-dependent relaxations in both detector and donor tissues. When infused through the transfer line, sickle cells were less potent than normal erythrocytes in inhibiting relaxation in the detector tissues. In contrast, infusion of either normal erythrocytes or sickle cell through the donor artery caused similar degrees of inhibition in donor and detector arteries. Hemolysates from both types of erythrocytes were equieffective at either site of infusion. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that sickle cells are intrinsically less potent scavengers of EDRF than normal erythrocytes. However, exposure to the endothelium enhances the ability of sickle cells to inhibit lumenal release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2003

Interaction of pathogens with the endothelium.

The endothelium lines the inner surface of the vessel wall establishing a multifunctional, semi-permeable cellular barrier at blood-tissue interface. The large total surface of the endothelium is exposed to pathogens, pathogen-derived products as well as to agents of the activated host defense during an inflammatory reaction. The endothelium is not only specifically targeted by important infective agents like Rickettsiae (1) or Bartonella (2), it is involved in virtually most, if not all, acute inflammatory responses. Pathogens attack the endothelium by a wide variety of strategies, as different as activation of preformed receptor-mediated pathways in the endothelium, release of pore-forming exotoxins or intracellular replication and chronic parasitism. These pathophysiological forces affect the endothelial phenotype, resulting in endothelial barrier dysfunction, increased leukocyte-endothelial interaction, mediator release, and procoagulant activity. Moreover, endothelial responses retroact on the invading pathogen as well as on the host defense resulting in a complex and dynamic interaction. Endothelial activation contributes considerably to inflammation and resulting clinical characteristics. In this context the endothelium is not just a passive victim, it rather aggravates the ongoing struggle with the pathogen. In this review we focus on some important mechanisms of the cellular microbiology of endothelial infection by bacteria and viruses.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

In vivo measurement of endothelium-dependent vasodilation with substance P in man.

Endothelial cells synthesize and metabolize vasoactive substances which are involved in the regulation of vascular tone. Among these factors, the endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) appears to be of major importance. Many studies observed an impairment of the generation, release, or the diffusion of endothelial NO across the vascular intima in laboratory animals with various experimental diseases such as hypercholesterolemia, atherosclerosis and hypertension. In human coronary arteries obtained from explanted hearts impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations were measured in atherosclerotic segments. The hypothesis of a decreased NO mediated vasodilation in patients with coronary artery disease was further underscored by in vivo studies in man using intracoronary infusions of the endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine and quantitative coronary angiographic measurements of the diameter changes. From these observations it was assumed that endothelial dysfunction, in particular a profound inability of the coronary endothelium to relax via NO dependent mechanisms may play an important role in the pathogenesis of abnormal coronary vasomotion. However, further investigations in man reveal that the ability of the coronary endothelium of patients with coronary artery disease or vasospastic angina to produce endothelial NO is less affected as judged from the effects of acetylcholine. In recent investigations a largely preserved endothelial function could be measured in these patients when the endothelium-dependent vasodilator substance P was used as a tool for the measurement of NO dependent relaxation. Thus, endothelial dysfunction does not appear to serve as a major cause of abnormal vasoconstriction in coronary artery disease or vasospastic angina in man.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1992

Anisodamine inhibits acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation of canine femoral artery.

The effects of anisodamine on acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation were studied in organ chambers and under bioassay conditions. In organ chamber experiments, both acetylcholine and bradykinin induced an endothelium-dependent relaxation of norepinephrine-contracted canine femoral arteries in a concentration-dependent manner; the relaxation induced by acetylcholine, but not that by bradykinin, was inhibited by anisodamine or atropine in a concentration-dependent manner. In bioassay experiments, a denuded ring of left circumflex coronary artery was superfused with perfusate passed through segment of femoral artery with endothelium or a direct superfusion line. Acetylcholine induced the release of relaxing factor(s) from the segment with endothelium causing a relaxation of bioassay ring and the relaxation was eliminated by anisodamine infused into the perfusion line above, but not below, the perfused segment. The results suggest that anisodamine, like atropine, is able to inhibit acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation by blocking endothelial muscarinic receptors which activate the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s).

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1992

[In vitro study of the role of endothelium on the vasorelaxant effect of magnesium on the aorta from DOCA-salt hypertensive rats].

Vasorelaxant effects of magnesium (Mg) have been described in man and in animal with arterial hypertension. Some studies have shown relationships between extracellular Mg (magnesium e.c.) and endothelial function. So, our study is designed to determine whether elevated extracellular Mg leads to an endothelium-dependent vasorelaxant effect on contractile tension developed by noradrenaline in isolated aorta from DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. Elevated extracellular Mg (4.8 mM) in the bath significantly depressed the dose-response curve to noradrenaline in aorta with endothelium. Following disruption of endothelium, the vasorelaxant effect of elevated extracellular Mg on contractile response to noradrenaline was greatly inhibited. Furthermore, in presence of L. NG nitroarginine (L-NAME) (10(-4) M), inhibitor of endothelial nitric oxide (NO) biosynthesis, the vasorelaxant effect of extracellular Mg on contractility to noradrenaline was partially inhibited. The addition of sodium nitroprussiate (5 10(-9) M), known to spontaneously release NO, caused the reappearance of Mg vasorelaxation which had disappeared in aorta without endothelium. In conclusion, vascular endothelium seems to play an important role in the Mg-induced depressed contractile response to noradrenaline in isolated aorta from DOCA-salt hypertensive rat. Endothelial NO seems to be implicated in the endothelium-dependent action of extracellular Mg.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Different susceptibility of vasodilator nerve, endothelium and smooth muscle functions to Ca++ antagonists in cerebral arteries.

Effects of selective (nicardipine) and nonselective (Cd++) Ca++ channel antagonists on the responses of isolated dog cerebral arteries to vasodilator nerve stimulation, substance P, serotonin and prostaglandin F2 alpha were investigated; the relaxation caused by the nerve stimulation and the peptide is mediated by NO, possibly from the nerve and endothelium, respectively. Relaxant responses to nerve stimulation by electrical pulses and nicotine in the endothelium-denuded arteries were attenuated by Cd++, but not influenced by nicardipine; the concentrations of these antagonists were sufficient to suppress contractions caused by prostaglandin F2 alpha and serotonin to a similar extent. Increase in cyclic GMP by nicotine was also suppressed solely by Cd++. In the endothelium-intact arteries treated with indomethacin, relaxations induced by substance P were not affected by nicardipine, but were significantly attenuated by Cd++. The peptide-induced increase in cyclic GMP was suppressed by Cd++, but not by nicardipine. It is concluded that functional properties of the Ca++ channel responsible for increasing cytosolic Ca++ in the nerve and endothelium for the synthesis and release of nitric oxide or endothelium-derived relaxing factor differ from those of the channel in smooth muscle. Because Ca++ is a prerequisite for the synthesis of NO, smooth muscle does not appear to be the site of production of NO that transmits vasodilator information from the nerve or endothelium to cerebroarterial smooth muscle.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Study of antithrombotic function of endothelium in vascular tissue engineering].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the current situation and developing trend of antithrombotic function study of endothelium in vascular tissue engineering. METHODS: The effect of several elements on the antithrombotic ability of endothelium, including the source of endothelium, the characteristic of the matrix materials, the cell culture methods, and the endothelium's gene modification were analyzed. RESULTS: The normal antithrombotic function of tissue engineered vascular relied on the source of endothelium, gene modification of seeding cells, the cell culture methods in vitro, and the characteristic of the scaffolds. CONCLUSION: The establishment of an ideal antithrombotic functional tissue engineering vascular still requires further studies in various aspects including seeding cells, matrix materials, and cell culture methods. Gene modification of vascular endothelium, which improves the antithrombotic ability, deserves more attention.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Global myocardial ischemia and reperfusion impair endothelium-dependent relaxations to aggregating platelets in the canine coronary artery. A possible cause of vasospasm after cardiopulmonary bypass.

Experiments were designed to determine whether endothelial cell injury contributes to increased coronary vascular tone after global cardiac ischemia and reperfusion. Canine hearts were exposed to global ischemia for 45 minutes and were reperfused for 60 minutes. Rings (5 to 6 mm long) of the left anterior descending coronary artery from reperfused hearts and from normal (control) hearts were suspended for isometric force measurement in organ chambers containing physiologic salt solution (37 degrees C, and 95% oxygen and 5% carbon dioxide). After contraction with prostaglandin F2 alpha, reperfused coronary arteries had significant impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxations to aggregating platelets (52% +/- 12% relaxation versus 102% +/- 11% for control segments; p less than 0.05). Reperfused arterial rings also exhibited impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations to the receptor-dependent agonist acetylcholine and the platelet-derived compounds adenosine diphosphate and serotonin. Importantly, endothelium-dependent relaxations to the non-receptor-dependent agonist A23187 were normal after ischemia and reperfusion. Quiescent (noncontracted) reperfused arterial rings lost the ability to counteract the constrictive effect of aggregating platelets on the coronary vascular smooth muscle (24% +/- 7% contraction versus 5% +/- 2% relaxation for control segments; p less than 0.05). Endothelium-independent contractions to potassium chloride and prostaglandin F2 alpha were similar in reperfused and normal arteries. Also, endothelium-independent relaxations to nitric oxide and isoproterenol were comparable in reperfused arteries and normal vessels. Thus global cardiac ischemia and reperfusion impair the normal endothelium-dependent relaxations to aggregating platelets and other receptor-dependent vasoactive drugs. This impairment of platelet-mediated coronary vasodilation may explain increased coronary vascular tone after cardiopulmonary bypass and could be an important pathophysiologic mechanism of postoperative coronary vasospasm.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Effects of Danshen injection on the reserve of tissue plasminogen activator and nitric oxide in endothelium and vasodilatation in diabetic patients].

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the effects of Danshen Injection on the reserve of tissue plasminogen activator and nitric oxide in endothelium and vasodilatation in diabetic patients. METHODS: 32 patients and 16 normal individuals were enrolled into this study. The capacity of vascular endothelium to release tPA and NO was examined by venous occlusion of the upper arm. Brachial artery diameter was measured at baseline, during post occlusion reactive hyperemia (flow-mediated endothelium-dependent), and after sublingual nitroglycerol administration (endothelium-independent). Vasodilation was expressed as the percentage changes relative to the baseline diameter, while endothelial tPA and NO release was expressed as the percentage change relative to the baseline tPA and NO levels. Thickness of the intima of carotid artery was measured using ultrasound imaging. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in eudothelum-independent vasodilation between the controls and diabetes. However, significant reduction in endothelium-dependent vasodilation, endothelial NO release and tPA release (P <0.05, or P <0.01) were found in diabetes compared with the controls and the reduction was lower in diabetes with hypertension than that in diabetes without it. At the same time, there was no difference in intimamedial thickness of the carotid artery between two groups, although the carotid artery in the diabetes without hypertension was much thicker than that in the control. But that in the diabetes with hypertension had significant difference compared with that in the control. CONCLUSION: Danshen Injection may improve the above-mentioned marks. And it may increase the endothelium-dependent vasodilation and endothelial tPA and NO release and improve the vascular disease in patients with diabetes mellitus.

Adult↗
PubMed1991

[Effect of chronic hypoxia on endothelium-dependent relaxation and the content of cGMP in rat pulmonary artery].

This experiment was designed to investigate whether chronic hypoxia affect rat pulmonary artery (PA) endothelium-dependent relaxation and the content of cGMP in PA. Both ACh and ATP could induce endothelium-dependent relaxation of PA, not prevented by indomethacin, but completely abolished by methylene blue. These results indicated that vasodilatation of PA induced by both ACh and ATP is mediated by EDRF (endothelium-derived relaxing factor). Chronic hypoxia significantly depressed PA endothelium-dependent relaxation. The percent relaxation of IPPA and EPPA by 10(-6) mol/L ACh was 61.3% and 59.2% of those in control, and the percent relaxation of IPPA and EPPA by 1.8 x 10(-5) mol/L ATP was 64.9% and 55.3% respectively of the control. Chronic hypoxia also depressed SNP-induced endothelium-independent relaxation. Chronic hypoxia significantly decreased the content of cGMP in PA. The basic level of cGMP was 51.9 +/- 5.7 (n = 14) in hypoxia group and 84.9 +/- 9.7 (n = 14) pmol/g wet wt. in control group (P less than 0.01). After treatment of PA with ACh (10(-7) mol/L), the content of cGMP was 91.4 +/- 7.3 (n = 5) pmol/g wet wt. in hypoxic group and 240.8 +/- 30.6 (n = 5) pmol/g wet wt. in control group (P less than 0.01). Our data suggest that chronic hypoxia might depress rat pulmonary artery endothelium-dependent relaxation through the inhibition of soluble guanylate cyclase in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Protective effect on the corneal endothelium and remaining effect at the anterior chamber for three different kinds of viscoelastic devices].

PURPOSE: The present study was performed to evaluate the corneal endothelium protection and anterior chamber stagnation abilities of three different types of viscoelastic substances (Healon, Viscoat, HealonV). METHODS: Viscoelastic substances were selected at random for 120 eyes with cataracts, and the postoperative reduction rates of the corneal endothelium cells were compared. The residual viscoelastic substances after filling of the anterior chamber of pig eyes and aspiration with a handpiece were measured by an anterior eye segment image analysis system. The same procedures were performed in rabbit eyes and the residual levels of viscoelastic substances on the corneal endothelium were photographed histologically. RESULTS: The reduction rate of endothelium corneal cells tended to decrease with Viscoat three months after surgery. The results obtained with the anterior eye segment image analysis system showed that the residual level in the anterior chamber was higher with Healon. Histological analyses demonstrated residual Viscoat at the center of the corneal endothelium after perfusion. CONCLUSION: HealonV was superior in terms of spatial retention and Viscoat had corneal endothelium protection potential.

Aged↗
PubMed1991

Role of endothelium, oxygen and ionic milieu in the prostacyclin and thromboxane production of rat aortic tissue slices.

The present study was executed in order to get further data on the role of vessel wall constituents in prostanoid synthesis and on the effect of anorganic constituents on it. Prostacyclin and tromboxane production of rat aortic tissue slices with intact endothelium and after mechanical as well as chemical endothelium removal were studied. The effects of hypoxia and changes in the ionic milieu on the release of these prostanoids were also examined. The tissue slices were incubated in normal or in modified Krebs-Ringer solution, bubbled with 95% O2 and 5% CO2 (with the exception of the studies in hypoxic conditions). Prostacyclin and thromboxane release was determined by specific radioimmunoassay of the stable metabolites, 6-keto-PGF1 alpha and TxB2, from the incubation medium. 174 tissue samples obtained from 164 rats were studied. Mechanical removal of the endothelium increased prostacyclin production of the aortic segments about fivefolds from a basal rate of 52.9 +/- 19.4 ng/gr/min, while it had no significant effect on thromboxane release (basal rate 0.83 +/- 0.13 ng/gr/min). Treating the endothelium with 1.0 M HCl almost totally suppressed prostacyclin release. Lowering the partial oxygen tension of the incubation medium significantly decreased the production of prostacyclin, while release of TxB2 somewhat increased. Increasing the Ca2+ concentration of the medium between 0-5 mM the release of prostacyclin was augmented and the release of thromboxane was diminished. Potassium free medium caused a very large increase in prostacyclin release of the tissue slices. The results show that release of vasoactive prostanoids from isolated rat aortic wall is dependent not exclusively on the endothelium and that various methods of endothelium removal may have distinct influences on prostacyclin and thromboxane productions. The changes in anorganic constituents of the surrounding medium could massively affect prostacyclin and thromboxane production of rat aortic tissue. The alternative effects of the above listed treatments on the release of prostacyclin and thromboxane from the rat aortic wall suggest the existence of different mechanisms in the control of the production of the two major prostanoids possessing opposite physiological effects.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗