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Coronary reserve has been shown repeatedly to be depressed in hypertension and aging. The underlying mechanisms remain elusive, but structural alterations of the coronary vasculature have been implicated. In this study, we measured maximal coronary dilator capacity and structural characteristics relevant to coronary resistance in aging normotensive (Wistar-Kyoto, n = 22) and spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) strains (n = 25) at 1.5, 4, 11, 16, and 22 months of age. Coronary flow measurements, using radiolabeled microspheres, demonstrated a significant (p < 0.01) hypertension- and age-related decline in maximal coronary dilator capacity. After flow measurements, vascular dimensions and arteriolar density were obtained from 1-micron sections prepared from perfusion-fixed hearts. A total of 10,012 arterioles were analyzed, 4,820 in hypertensive and 5,192 in normotensive rats. There was an 18-28% reduction in arteriolar density in hypertensive rats that specifically affected the terminal arteriolar bed at 1.5-11 months. However, the decrement in arteriolar density stabilized at 10% and 6% in 16- and 22-month-old hypertensive rats, respectively. Arteriolar density was not affected by aging. In both strains, there was a significant (p < 0.01) age-related decrease in the ratio of lumen diameter to wall thickness in arterioles > 50 microns. In addition, there was an overall 30% decrease (p < 0.01) in the ratio of lumen diameter to wall thickness in hypertensive compared with normotensive rats. These data indicate that both hypertension and aging are accompanied by structural alterations of the coronary resistance vasculature. These structural alterations may contribute to the depression in coronary reserve that complicates hypertension and aging.

The NEMO.RD Project is a feasibility study of a km 3 underwater telescope for high energy astrophysical neutrinos to be located in the Mediterranea Sea. At present this study concerns: i) Monte Carlo simulation study of the capabilities of various arrays of phototubes in order to determine the detector geometry that can optimize performance and cost; ii) design of low power consumption electronic cards for data acquisition and transmission to shore; iii) feasibility study of mechanics, deployment, connection and maintenance of such a detector in collaboration with petrol industries having experience of undersea operations; iv) oceanographic exploration of various sites in search for the optimal one. A brief report on the status of points i) and iv) is presented here.

The fine structure of intraganglionic blood vessels of rat superior cervical sympathetic ganglia is studied with the light microscope and with both conventional and ultrastructural histochemical methods. Two sets of small capillaries together with larger sinusoidal ones are identified. One set of capillaries is associated with the clustered (type II) small catecholamine-containing (CC) cells and exhibits features suggestive of fluid transport function (multiple wide fenestrae and active pinocytosis). The second set of capillaries is in direct relation to the sympathetic neurons (SN) and shows characteristics suggestive of absorptive function (microvilli and pinocytotic vesicles). The larger sinusoidal capillaries are observed in the vicinity of type II CC cells extend parallel to the long axes of the perikarya of the neurons and occasionally form loops around them. The latter are assumed to be larger blood spaces connecting the two capillary sets and serve to slow the circulation around the neurons. A pattern of portal-like intraganglionic microcirculation through which type II CC cells participate in modulating the SN is postulated. Type II CC cells secrete a catecholamine modulator which, driven by concentration gradient, gains access to the circulation through the fenestrated capillaries. The sinusoidal capillaries serve to perfuse the SN with a slow stream of blood rich in the catecholamine modulator. The latter can be filtered through the microvilli and pinocytotic vesicles of the second set of capillaries to induce slow inhibitory postsynaptic potential on the SN.

The TC-1 bone marrow stromal cell line expresses a 2.3 kb IGFBP-4 mRNA transcript. Reverse transcription/polymerase chain reaction was used to amplify the complete open reading frame of the insulin-like growth factor binding protein-4 (IGFBP-4) from poly(A)+ of a murine bone marrow stromal cell line (TC-1). Sequence analysis reveals that the murine IGFBP-4 is highly homologous to the rat IGFBP-4 and less so to the human IGFBP-4. The inferred amino acid sequence has a molecular weight of 25.7 kD. An IGFBP-4/maltose binding protein fusion peptide expression in the pMal-p2 vector produced a fusion protein exhibiting both IGFBP immunoreactivity and IGF-I binding activity with specificity characteristic of IGFBPs.

The TT human medullary thyroid carcinoma cell line secretes a 7.5 kD species with insulin-like growth factor (IGF-I) immunoreactivity and HPLC mobility and expresses IGF-I mRNA. Conditioned medium also contained IGF-binding activity with a pattern of displacement of [I-125]-IGF-I characteristic of IGF binding proteins. Western ligand analysis and immunobloting with anti-IGFBP4 antiserum identified a 34 kD IGF-I binding species. Northern analysis identified a 2.1 kb IGFBP4 mRNA species. Cell surface binding of [I-125]-IGF-I identified Type I IGF receptors. TT cells constitute a useful model to study the IGF-I autocrine system in the transformed state.

The cardiovascular actions of cocaine in vivo are varied and often antagonistic. Cocaine produces excitatory sympathomimetic effects by interfering with re-uptake of norepinephrine at adrenergic nerve terminals. However, the local anaesthetic properties of cocaine exert depressant effects on the myocardium. In an attempt to differentiate the direct effects of cocaine from the indirect sympathomimetic effects on the myocardium, primary cultures of neonatal rat cardiomyocytes were established under serum-free conditions and exposed to cocaine and/or norepinephrine. After 36-48 h in culture, spontaneously contracting cells were treated with cocaine (10-1,000 micrograms/ml) and contractile rate (beats/min) quantitated, after which the cells were processed for ultrastructural examination. The contractile rate was reduced at all dosages with nearly 80% reduction at the highest concentration studied. Recovery of beating rate was observed 24 h after removal of cocaine. Pronounced cytoplasmic vacuolation of the cells occurred at concentrationsor = 100 micrograms/ml. Ultrastructural examination revealed extensive myofibrillar disruption, membrane damage, and a near complete loss of organized sarcomeres. Nuclear morphology remained unaffected. Within 24 h after removal of cocaine from the medium, myocytes recovered their characteristic cytoplasmic architecture, indicative of sarcomere reassembly. The results observed in response to cocaine were distinctly different from the response to norepinephrine. In these myocytes, the contractile rate was enhanced twofold and morphological damage was not observed. These findings suggest that cocaine can directly alter myocardial morphology independent of its sympathomimetic effects.

Heparin-dependent staining of endothelial cell glycocalyx is described following perfusion of the rat mesenteric vasculature with histamine. Similar staining is seen following perfusion with penicillamine, a chelator of heavy metals and chemically similar to histamine. This suggests that the chelator properties of the imidazole ring of histamine may be involved in the formation of the reaction product.

Cross-sections of rat mesenteric vessels were examined histologically after short-term perfusions of angiotensin II (AII), norepinephrine (NE), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), and histamine. Mesenteric veins (300–400 µm) and muscular venules (50–100 µm) exhibited dose-dependent constrictor responses to AII, but not to NE. Arterioles of comparable size (50–100 µm) did not constrict at low doses of AII or NE, but responded when higher pressor concentrations of each agonist were perfused. At equipressor doses, constriction of mesenteric arterioles was greater following NE when compared with AII. Short perfusions of 5-HT resulted in mild venoconstriction, while histamine induced dilation of the muscular venules. Ultrastructurally, vascular damage in response to AII was minimal and confined to the formation of small vacuoles in the endothelial cytoplasm. Endothelial integrity was preserved and no autonomous endothelial contraction was observed. Vacuolation induced by NE was far more extensive and particularly evident in arteries and arterioles.

Hypertrophy of the mammalian heart, regardless of the initiating event, results in architectural remodeling of ventricular components that maintain structural and functional characteristics of this organ. Ventricular components that vary their morphology and morphometry in a hypertrophic state are the muscle cells, connective tissue elements, vasculature, or a combination of some or all of the above. Morphologic quantification of the progressive tissue changes occurring throughout the natural life span of the spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats has not been thoroughly documented. Using perfused-fixed tissue from both strains at 1, 6, 12, 18, and 24 months of age, we have determined the morphometric changes that occurred in the subepicardial and midwall regions of the left ventricle. Myocyte cell size, wall thickness, and arterial blood pressure were elevated in 1-month-old spontaneously hypertensive rats, reached significance by 6 months, and remained significantly greater throughout the 24 months examined. Tissue morphometry demonstrated significant tissue component volumetric differences at 6 months in the spontaneously hypertensive rat. Age-related morphometric tissue changes occurred in both strains yet were exacerbated (percent volume of myocytes) or diminished (percent volume interstitial space) in the mature and aging spontaneously hypertensive rat. Capillary density of SHR left ventricle showed a drastic decline so that 6-month-old SHR had the same density as a senescent Wistar-Kyoto. Tissue morphometry and capillary density data strongly support the hypothesis that tissue oxygenation is diminished in the spontaneously hypertensive rat, and as a result, tissue necrosis and myocyte cell death occur.

Postnatal growth of the mammalian ventricular myocyte is characterized by a brief period of hyperplasia followed by an extensive period of physiological hypertrophy. Using myocytes isolated from both Wistar-Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats from fetus to 10 months old, we analyzed morphological, biochemical, and ploidy changes. Fetal myocytes from both spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats were mononuclear, diploid cells. By 4 weeks, adult binucleation levels (84% binuclear) were found, and myocytes pooled from both ventricles demonstrated nuclear ploidy shifts to tetraploid levels. However, analysis of myocytes isolated from left ventricle, right ventricle, and septum showed that nuclear polyploidation was confined to the right ventricle and septum, with few polyploid nuclei detected in the left ventricle. This pattern remained relatively constant through 10 months of age, although spontaneously hypertensive myocytes showed significantly more polyploidation than Wistar-Kyoto in all regions. Biochemical analysis of isolated myocytes substantiated the nuclear ploidy changes and demonstrated elevated protein and ribonucleic acid content in left ventricular myocytes without extensive polyploidation. Since cardiac hypertrophy, both physiological and pathological, is associated primarily with the left ventricle and occurs in the absence of significant ploidy changes, these findings suggest that a unique pattern of gene regulation may be ongoing in the left ventricle myocytes that is not present in the septum and right ventricle. These variations may be essential for cellular hypertrophy under normal and pathological conditions.

Cocaine abuse has been associated with pathologic cardiovascular events including acute myocardial infarction (AMI) and sudden death. Although coronary vasospasm has been proposed as a possible mechanism, the ability of cocaine to induce coronary spasm has not been conclusively demonstrated. In these studies, isolated rat hearts were perfused with cocaine (100 micrograms to 500 micrograms/ml) for 1 minute, perfusion-fixed with glutaraldehyde, and histologically assessed for evidence of coronary spasm through light and electron microscopy. Light micrographs revealed that cocaine induced spasm in coronary arterioles up to 65 microns in diameter, whereas larger caliber vessels did not constrict. Ultrastructurally, vacuolation was observed in the endothelial and smooth muscle cells of constricted arterioles. Endothelial integrity was maintained and interendothelial junctions remained intact. Morphologic evidence of constriction was supported by data obtained from Langendorff-heart preparations in which cocaine reduced myocardial flow rate under constant pressure conditions and increased aortic perfusion pressure under constant flow conditions. Spasm induced by cocaine was prevented by the calcium entry blocker nitrendipine, but not by phentolamine, an alpha-adrenergic antagonist. The finding of small vessel spasm in this study may explain the significant number of clinical cases of cocaine-associated AMI in which the main coronary arteries appear angiographically normal.