Architectural alterations in rat cerebral microvessels after hypobaric hypoxia

We performed 3-dimensional studies of vascular casts of the microvasculature of the cerebral cortex of rats that were exposed to three weeks of hypobaric hypoxia and of control rats. Scanning electron microscopy of the casts gave the qualitative impression of increased vascularity of the cerebral cortex, particularly the deeper layers, in hypoxic rats. Quantitative analysis of capillary segment lengths revealed a significant shift in the frequency distribution to longer lengths (from 77 ± 8 to 90 ± 14 μm) in the deep, but not in the superficial, layers of the cerebral cortex of hypoxic rats. These findings agree with previous results reporting increased capillary density in the brain after exposure to prolonged hypobaric hypoxia and suggest that capillary segment elongation plays a role in the increased capillary density in the deeper layers of the cerebral cortex.     

Estimated Functional Diameter of Alveolar Septal Microvessels at the Zone I-II Border

Objective : To measure the functional diameter of alveolar septal microvessels under conditions in which the pulmonary arterial pressure and the lung inflation pressure are equal, at 25 cm H₂O (zone I-II border), and to compare these results with those obtained when inflation pressure exceeded arterial pressure by 5 or 10 cm H₂O (zone I). Methods : We perfused isolated rat lungs (P_A 25, P_PA 25, P_LA 0 cm H₂O) with fluorescent latex particles of specific diameters (0.49, 1.05, 2.0, 4.0, or 10 μm) and then prepared samples for histology. Using a confocal, laser-scanning fluorescence microscope, we measured latex particle densities within the septal plane of individual alveoli. We compared these particle densities with those in arterioles supplying the septa and calculated the density ratio. We fit curves produced by the Verniory equation to these ratios to estimate the septal microvessel functional diameter. Results : Particle densities in septa ranged from 0.06 ± 0.02 particles per μm² ‘for 0.49-μm-diameter particles to 0.007 ± 0.004 particles per μm² for 4.0-μm-diameter particles. The 10-μm particles did not enter septa. Calculations based on these data suggest a septal microvessel functional diameter of 6–8 μm. Conclusions : In a previous study, conducted at the same value of P_inflat, but with P_PA set at 15 or 20 (5 or 10 cm H₂O into zone I), we estimated the capillary diameter to be 1.7 μm. Thus, the septal capillary diameter seems to increase by three- to fourfold as P_PA is raised to equal P_inflat.     

甲状腺机能亢进症辨证分型与甲皱微循环及TT_3、TT_4、FT_4I和吸~(131)碘率的关系

对甲状腺机能亢进症(甲亢)患者进行了临床辨证分型,同步观察甲皱微循环及检测TT_3 TT_4 FT_4I、吸~(131)碘率,探讨它们之间的关系。结果表明甲亢患者微循环积分明显高于对照组(P<0.01),但不同类型甲亢的血淤情况亦不相同。心肝火旺型的微循环积分低于气滞痰凝型和血瘀型,但TT_3、TT_4、FT_4I明显增高;气滞痰凝型居中;血淤型的微循环积分明显增高,但TT_3、TT_4、FT_4I低于其他两型。吸~(131)碘率三型间无差异(P>0.05)。     

Focal reduction of villous blood flow in early indomethacin enteropathy: a dynamic vascular study in the rat

Background—Oral indomethacin causes villousshortening, microvascular damage, and distortion, which might inducemucosal ischaemia and necrosis.
Aims—In order to determine the early events inindomethacin induced jejunal injury we examined the temporal relationsbetween morphological damage and changes in villous blood flowfollowing indomethacin.
Methods—In anaesthetised rats, mid jejunal villiwere exteriorised in a chamber and observed by fluorescence microscopy.Blood flow in surface capillaries was calculated from velocities and diameters. Indomethacin was applied by both luminal and intravenous routes for 90 minutes, after which the animal was perfusion fixed andthe villi were processed for histological examination. Control animalsreceived intravenous or luminal bicarbonate (1.25%).
Results—Blood flow slowed in individual villi at20 minutes, and progressed to complete stasis (in another group) by 45 minutes. Histological examination at 20 minutes revealed microvascular distortion, but no villous shortening: crypt depth:villous height ratios were 0.356 (0.02) in test and 0.386 (0.01) in surrounding villi(p>0.5). At stasis, the villi under study showed epithelial clumpingand were shortened: crypt depth:villous height ratios were 0.92 (0.2)in test and 0.42 (0.06) in surrounding villi (p<0.02). Vehicle alonehad no effect on either blood flow or histology.
Conclusions—Focal slowing of villous blood flowand microvascular distortion precede villus shortening and epithelialdisruption, and indicate that damage to surface microvasculature is anearly event in indomethacin induced mucosal injury in this model.

Keywords:indomethacin; jejunum; villi; microcirculation; endothelium; microthrombi

     

Differential regulation of cytokine genes in gingival epithelial cells challenged by Fusobacterium nucleatum and Porphyromonas gingivalis

IL-8 mRNA in human gingival epithelial cells (HGECs) is up-regulated by Fusobacterium nucleatum, and up-/down-regulated by Porphyromonas gingivalis in a complex interaction in the early stages (< or = 4 h) after infection. The mechanisms involved in this regulation in response to F. nucleatum and/or P. gingivalis infection, and identification of co-regulated cytokine genes, are the focus of this investigation. Heat, formalin or protease treatment of F. nucleatum cells attenuated the IL-8 mRNA up-regulation. NF-kappaB, mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) p38 and MAPK kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (MEK/ERK) pathways were involved in IL-8 mRNA induction by F. nucleatum. Pretreatment of P. gingivalis with heat, formalin or protease enhanced IL-8 mRNA induction. NF-kappaB, MARK p38, and MEK/ERK pathways were also involved in this induction. In contrast, down-regulation of IL-8 mRNA by P. gingivalis involved MEK/ERK, but not NF-kappaB or MAPK p38 pathways. cDNA arrays analysis revealed that mRNA down-regulation by P. gingivalis is a specific reaction that only a number of genes, e.g. IL-1beta, IL-8, macrophage inflammatory protein-2alpha, and migration inhibitory factor-related protein-14, are affected based on examination of 278 cytokine/receptor genes. These data indicate that F. nucleatum and P. gingivalis trigger specific and differential gene regulation pathways in HGECs.     

Sympathetic a-adrenergic control of large-bore arterial vessels,arterioles and veins,and of capillary pressure and fluid exchange in whole-organ cat skeletal muscle

The sympathetic nervous control of the vascular bed of cat gastrocnemius muscle was studied with a new whole-organ technique which permits simultaneous, continuous and quantitative measurements of capillary pressure (P_c), capillary fluid exchange and resistance reactions in the whole vascular bed and in its three consecutive sections: large-bore arterial vessels (> 25 μm), arterioles (< 25 μm) and veins. The results demonstrated a distinct neural control of all three consecutive vascular sections, graded in relation to the rate of nerve excitation up to maximum at 16 Hz. Stimulation at high rates, which in the steady state caused an average rise of overall regional resistance from 15.3 to 120 PRU (7.8-fold increase), thus raised large-bore arterial vessel resistance from 8.8 to 64 PRU (7.3-fold increase), arteriolar resistance from 4.5 to 49 PRU (10.9-fold increase) and venous resistance from 2.0 to 7 PRU (3.5-fold increase). The rate of resistance development (PRU s^-1) of the sympathetic constrictor response was much higher in the arteriolar than in the other sections, which indicates that the neural control is especially prompt and efficient in the arterioles. A passive component was shown to contribute to the described responses only on the venous side, but in no case by more than 10% of the total sympathetic venous resistance response, which thus is mainly active. Of special functional importance was that the new technique provided information about the adrenergic control of P_c, in absolute figures. From the control value of 19 mmHg, graded sympathetic stimulation caused a graded decline in P_c, at maximum constriction by about 7 mmHg. This resulted in marked net transcapillary fluid absorption, in turn increasing plasma volume.     

Blood flow in the rabbit tenuissimus muscle Influence of preparative procedures for intravital microscopic observation

LINDBOM, L., TUMA, R. F. & ARFORS, K.-E.: Blood flow in the rabbit tenuissimus muscle: Influence of preparative procedures for intravital microscopic observation. Acta Physiol Scand 1982, 114 :121–127. Received 21 April 1981. ISSN 0001–6772. Department of Experimental Medicine, Pharmacia AB, Uppsala, Sweden. The tenuissimus muscle in the rabbit and the cat is a suitable tissue for intravital microscopic investigation of skeletal muscle blood flow. In this study the influence of surgical procedures necessary for direct microscopic observation on the physiological state of the rabbit tenuissimus muscle was assessed by means of blood flow measurements. Mean resting blood flow was 2.8±0.8 (mean ± S.D.) ml. min^-1. 100 g^-1 in the left tenuissimus muscle when prepared for microscopic observation as determined by the radioactive microsphere method. This value was not significantly different from that in the intact unexposed muscle in the contralateral leg, 3.3 ±1.1 ml. min^-1. 100 g^-1. Exposure of the muscle to atmospheric oxygen tension resulted in a reduction of blood flow to 0.7±0.4 ml. min^-l. 100g^-l, suggesting that local metabolic control mechanisms were active. The normal range of vascular control seemed to be maintained, as demonstrated by an increase in blood flow to 64.2± 18.8 ml. min-¹. 100 g^-l during “maximal” vasodilation induced by topical application of PGE₁. The tenuissimus muscle showed a marked sensitivity to mechanical stimulation. Slight stretching of the muscle, similar to what may occur during surgical preparation, resulted in an increase in blood flow to 17.5±5.7 ml. min^-1. 100 g^-1. Flow values calculated from data obtained by direct microscopic measurements in the tenuissimus muscle agreed well with those obtained by the microsphere method.     

白细胞对血吸虫病肝微循环的影响

本实验在透射电镜下发现:慢性血吸虫病兔(n=10)肝细胞间有大量淋巴细胞,肝细胞膜及超微结构受损。肝窦壁及门管区小血管壁粘附有白细胞,包括中性粒细胞和淋巴细胞。窦内皮破坏,血管腔狭窄,窦内红细胞淤滞。巨噬细胞亦增生、肥大。白细胞内胞浆肿胀,富含溶酶体,微胞饮泡活跃。表明粘附、嵌塞和聚集在肝微循环内的白细胞可损伤肝实质及形成血吸虫病性门脉高压症。