Immunohistochemical localization of apolipoproteins A-I and B in human carotid arteries

Decreased plasma levels of apolipoprotein A-I (apo A-I) and increased plasma levels of apolipoprotein B (apo B) have been shown to correlate with increased risk of atherosclerosis. While many studies have investigated the plasma levels of these apolipoproteins with regard to their value as predictors of cardiovascular disease, comparatively little is known about their precise tissue localization in atherosclerotic plaques. The purpose of this study was to determine the tissue localization of apo A-I and apo B in atherosclerotic segments of human carotid arteries through the use of immunohistochemical techniques. With tissue samples obtained from surgery and autopsy, apo A-I and apo B were found to be present in atherosclerotic plaques and absent in normal arterial tissue. In the plaques, both apo A-I and apo B were found extracellularly, primarily in the lipid core, but also in connective tissue. In addition, both apo A-I and apo B were found intracellularly in foam cells. This similar intracellular and extracellular distribution of apo A-I and apo B was unexpected, in view of their differing associations with atherosclerosis.     

Scanning electron microscopic investigations of the human umbilical artery intima

Summary Umbilical cord arteries were investigated using a scanning electron microscope using different methods of preparation: Perfusion of one artery under pressure from a 100 cm water column caused artefacts and the preparatory work took at least 10 min after delivery. To shorten this time fully patent umbilical cords were double clamped and fixed immediately after birth. However, the removal of blood after fixation caused the endothelial layer to be lost. Therefore umbilical cords were double clamped, snap frozen and stored in liquid nitrogen until preparation. The endothelial lining of the fully patent umbilical artery at birth is composed of longitudinally arranged, spindleshaped cells, connected by cellular junctions. The basement membrane contains numerous gaps. Because of these gaps postnatal vasoconstriction causes herniation of the subendothelial myofibroblasts forming subendothelial vacuoles. The vacuoles produce displacement of the endothelial cell cytoplasm towards the vascular lumina resulting in protuberances and blebs on the endothelial cells. Rupture of vacuoles leads to crater-like injuries.Beneath the basement membrane a thin layer of myofibroblasts is arranged longitudinally. Oblique or transversely ordered bundles of myofibroblasts are interposed at wide and irregular intervals. These transverse bundles are able to trigger localized contraction rings called folds of Hoboken, the initial stage of postnatal arterial closure.     

Epoxy-resin injection of the cerebral arterial microvasculature: An evaluation of the limits of spatial resolution in 8 Tesla MRI

The purpose of this study was to quantify the spatial resolution of microscopic arteries on magnetic resonance images acquired at 8 Tesla (T). Techniques similar to those used for standard MRI of the human brain in vivo at 8 T were utilized to generate high-resolution gradient echo (GE) images of a whole postmortem human brain whose common carotid arterial system had been injected with an epoxy-resin. Single slice images, along with summed images of up to 5 contiguous slices, were then compared to color digital photographs detailing the distribution of the arterial system on the surface of the same injected brain. There was excellent MR visualization of the microscopic cerebral arteries down to a spatial resolution of 200 microm. Through the use of an 8 T whole-body MRI scanner and standard GE imaging sequences, microscopic arterial structures can be clearly resolved down to a dimension of 200 microm.     

SPP对人脐静脉内皮EA.hy926细胞表达粘附分子的作用

目的:通过研究在N,N-二甲基鞘氨醇(DMS)作用下,人脐静脉内皮EA.hy926细胞株(EA株)表达粘附分子CD54(ICAM-1)和CD62p(PS)的变化,探讨第二信使1-磷酸鞘氨醇(SPP)参与动脉粥样硬化(AS)粘附过程的机制。方法:采用流式细胞仪分群作用衡量EA细胞株和单核细胞之间的粘附率,用细胞免疫组化法检测DMS作用于EA株后引起的粘附分子的表达。结果:随着DMS作用剂量或作用时间的增加,CD54与CD62p的表达均减少,同时粘附率也相应地下降。结论:AS早期的粘附过程可能是通过SPP来转导信息,以促进粘附分子表达。     

香烟尘粒对人脐静脉内皮EA.hy926细胞的损伤作用

目的:选用人脐静脉内皮EA.hy926细胞株作为研究对象,观察二甲基亚砜溶解的香烟尘粒(DSP)对人脐静脉内皮EA.hy926细胞生长的影响。方法:以(1、2、4、8)mL/L剂量DSP作量效实验,小剂量DSP(2mL/L)作时效实验,采用MTT比色法和96孔板细胞蛋白测定方法来评价DSP对该细胞株增殖和活性的影响。透射电镜(TEM)观察不同处理因素作用后细胞超微结构变化。结果:DSP能抑制人脐静脉内皮EA.hy926细胞增殖(P<0.05),且对该细胞株具有明显毒性,它能减少细胞蛋白合成(P<0.05)、增加细胞死亡(主要为坏死),作用呈剂量和时间依赖。结论:DSP能损伤血管内皮细胞(VEC)。     

脑动脉DSA形态分析及其意义

目的：探讨脑血管造影各主要动脉的投影规律及其分支的显示率，为脑血管疾病的影像诊断和介入治疗提供重要参考。方法：随机抽取140例全脑血管DSA系列图像，选择其中无脑血管疾病的51例进行观察。分别统计颈内动脉和椎动脉造影时正常脑血管各主要分支的显示率；归纳大脑前动脉A1段、大脑中动脉M1段及大脑后动脉P1段在平面上的投影规律并分析总结了脑动脉的正常解剖学特征及其变异。结果：①脑底动脉变异较大；②颈内动脉照影时OA、AChA、ACoA、PCoA、ACA和MCA的显示率分别为96.1％、92．2％、52．9％、69．6％、100％和100％；③椎动脉造影时PICA、AICA、BA、SCA、PCA和PCoA的显示率分别为66．7％、62．7％、100％、70．6％、80．4％和41．2％。结论：①尽管脑底血管实际解剖关系较为复杂，但造影时反映到平面上可简捷的用“水平、上升、下降”等来描述血管的形态和走行；②虽然是平面图像，通过调整投照体位仍可非常逼真的反映血流的动态变化。     

激活素受体样激酶1促进人脐静脉内皮细胞增殖和迁徙

目的： 研究激活素受体样激酶1（ALK1）对人脐静脉内皮细胞的作用。 方法： 体外培养人脐静脉内皮细胞（HUVECs），RT-PCR分析ALK1和ALK5在HUVEC激活状态下表达的变化。脂质体转染pcDNA3.1+ALK1到HUVECs，流式细胞仪检测HUVECs增殖的改变，boyden小室检测ALK1对HUVECs迁徙的影响。 结果： ALK1在HUVEC安静状态高表达，ALK1能促进HUVECs的增殖和迁徙。 结论： ALK1通过促进内皮细胞的增殖和迁徙在血管重塑中发挥作用。     

Characterization of the prostanoid receptors and of the contractile effects of prostaglandin F2a in human pial arteries

The contractile and relaxant effects of various prostanoids were studied on isolated human pial arteries. Contractions were elicited with the following order of potency: U46619?U44069>PGB₂>PGF_2a>PGE₂?PGD₂>PGF_1a≥TXB₂, indicating that prostanoid-induced contractions probably are mediated by a thromboxane-sensitive receptor. Relaxation of PGF_2a-contracted arteries was induced with the order of potency: PGE₂> PGE₁>PGD₂?PGD₁. Vessels contrated by K⁺ were relaxed only by PGE,. Since PGI₂ was previously found to be more potent than all the prostanoids tested in the present study, relaxant responses are probably mediated via a PGI₂-sensitive receptor. The roles of free extracellular and cellularly bound calcium for the contractile effects of PGF_2a and K⁺ were estimated by incubating the arteries for various times in calcium-free medium containing 10^-5 M EGTA. Incubation for 5–10 min abolished K⁺-induced contractions, whereas after 40 min of incubation PGF_2a still induced contractions that reached 70% of control. The PGF_2a-induced contraction was biphasic in 8 out of 10 preparations. The second phase could be eliminated by increasing the EGTA-concentration to 10^-4 M, as well as by nifedipine pretreatment. In calcium-free, high K⁺ medium calcium-induced contractions were elicited at lower concentrations in the presence of PGF_2a. The results suggest that PGF_2a-induced contractions in human pial arteries are relatively independent of free extracellular calcium. PGF_2a may promote trans-membrane influx of calcium, as well as release calcium from seemingly superficially located cellular stores.     

The human placental bed: histology, immunohistochemistry and pathology

There has been much interest recently on local intra-uterine materno-fetal interactions particularly in the placental bed where cellular relationships between mother and fetus are at their most intimate. While few histopathologists are expected to interpret formal placental bed biopsy specimens, confrontation with tissue from this site is common following abortion, post-partum haemorrhage or molar gestation. This review gives an account of recent advances in our knowledge of the histology, immunohistochemistry and pathology of the placental bed. It focuses particularly on extravillous trophoblast populations and their relationship to maternal cells and emphasizes the importance of vascular changes.     

“Cross-over” duplication of middle cerebral artery,agenesis of internal carotid artery and saccular aneurysms

Summary The authors describe a patient with anomalous branches of the left internal carotid artery, cross-over duplication of its middle cerebral artery and agenesis of the contra-lateral internal carotid artery associated with two aneurysms successfully clipped. Pertinent literature is reviewed.