scholarly journals Characterization of Blood Flow in the Mouse Dorsal Spinal Venous System before and after Dorsal Spinal Vein Occlusion

2015 ◽  
Vol 35 (4) ◽  
pp. 667-675 ◽  
Author(s):  
Matthew J Farrar ◽  
Jonathan D Rubin ◽  
Darcy M Diago ◽  
Chris B Schaffer

The availability of transgenic strains has made the laboratory mouse a popular model for the study of healthy and diseased state spinal cord (SC). Essential to identifying physiologic and pathologic events is an understanding of the microvascular network and flow patterns of the SC. Using 2-photon excited fluorescence (2PEF) microscopy we performed in vivo measurements of blood flow in the lower thoracic portion of the mouse dorsal spinal vein (dSV) and in the first upstream branches supplying it, denoted as dorsal ascending venules (dAVs). We found that the dSV had large radiculomedullary veins (RMVs) exiting the SC, and that flow in the dSV between pairs of RMVs was bidirectional. Volumetric flow increased in each direction away from the point of bifurcation. Flow in the upstream dAVs varied with diameter in a manner consistent with a constant distal pressure source. By performing ex vivo 2PEF microscopy of fluorescent-gel perfused tissue, we created a 3-D map of the dorsal spinal vasculature. From these data, we constructed a simple model that predicted changes in the flow of upstream branches after occlusion of the dSV in different locations. Using an atraumatic model of dSV occlusion, we confirmed the predictions of this model in vivo.

Cells ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 1791
Author(s):  
Rosa Scala ◽  
Fatima Maqoud ◽  
Nicola Zizzo ◽  
Giuseppe Passantino ◽  
Antonietta Mele ◽  
...  

(1) Background: Cantu syndrome (CS) arises from gain-of-function (GOF) mutations in the ABCC9 and KCNJ8 genes, which encode ATP-sensitive K+ (KATP) channel subunits SUR2 and Kir6.1, respectively. Most CS patients have mutations in SUR2, the major component of skeletal muscle KATP, but the consequences of SUR2 GOF in skeletal muscle are unknown. (2) Methods: We performed in vivo and ex vivo characterization of skeletal muscle in heterozygous SUR2[A478V] (SUR2wt/AV) and homozygous SUR2[A478V] (SUR2AV/AV) CS mice. (3) Results: In SUR2wt/AV and SUR2AV/AV mice, forelimb strength and diaphragm amplitude movement were reduced; muscle echodensity was enhanced. KATP channel currents recorded in Flexor digitorum brevis fibers showed reduced MgATP-sensitivity in SUR2wt/AV, dramatically so in SUR2AV/AV mice; IC50 for MgATP inhibition of KATP currents were 1.9 ± 0.5 × 10−5 M in SUR2wt/AV and 8.6 ± 0.4 × 10−6 M in WT mice and was not measurable in SUR2AV/AV. A slight rightward shift of sensitivity to inhibition by glibenclamide was detected in SUR2AV/AV mice. Histopathological and qPCR analysis revealed atrophy of soleus and tibialis anterior muscles and up-regulation of atrogin-1 and MuRF1 mRNA in CS mice. (4) Conclusions: SUR2[A478V] “knock-in” mutation in mice impairs KATP channel modulation by MgATP, markedly so in SUR2AV/AV, with atrophy and non-inflammatory edema in different skeletal muscle phenotypes.


Author(s):  
Massis Krekorian ◽  
Gerwin G. W. Sandker ◽  
Kimberley R. G. Cortenbach ◽  
Oya Tagit ◽  
N. Koen van Riessen ◽  
...  

2014 ◽  
Vol 136 (11) ◽  
Author(s):  
Wilfried Bürzle ◽  
Edoardo Mazza ◽  
John J. Moore

Puncture testing has been applied in several studies for the mechanical characterization of human fetal membrane (FM) tissue, and significant knowledge has been gained from these investigations. When comparing results of mechanical testing (puncture, inflation, and uniaxial tension), we have observed discrepancies in the rupture sequence of FM tissue and significant differences in the deformation behavior. This study was undertaken to clarify these discrepancies. Puncture experiments on FM samples were performed to reproduce previous findings, and numerical simulations were carried out to rationalize particular aspects of membrane failure. The results demonstrate that both rupture sequence and resistance to deformation depend on the samples' fixation. Soft fixation leads to slippage in the clamping, which reduces mechanical loading of the amnion layer and results in chorion rupturing first. Conversely, the stiffer, stronger, and less extensible amnion layer fails first if tight fixation is used. The results provide a novel insight into the interpretation of ex vivo testing as well as in vivo membrane rupture.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Yedan Liu ◽  
Shaoxun Wang ◽  
Ya Guo ◽  
Huawei Zhang ◽  
Richard Roman ◽  
...  

Diabetes is the primary pathological factor attributed to Alzheimer’s disease and vascular cognitive impairment. Previous studies demonstrated that hyperglycemia promoted oxidative stress in the cerebral vasculature. Cerebrovascular pericytes contribute to maintaining blood-brain barrier (BBB) integrity and regulating cerebral blood flow (CBF). However, whether hyperglycemia diminishes the contractile capability of pericytes, impairs CBF autoregulation and increases BBB permeability are unclear. In the present study, we examined the role of pericytes in cerebrovascular function and cognition in diabetes using cell culture in vitro , isolated penetrating arterioles ex vivo and CBF autoregulation in vivo . Reactive oxygen species were elevated in high glucose (HG, 30 mM) treated vs. normal glucose (NG, 5.5 mM) treated pericytes. Further, mitochondrial superoxide production was increased in HG-treated vs. NG-treated group (13.24 ± 1.01 arbitrary unit (a.u.)/30min vs. 6.98 ± 0.36 a.u./30min). Mitochondrial respiration decreased in HG-treated vs. NG-treated pericytes (3718 ± 185.9 pmol/min/mg, n=10 vs. 4742 ± 284.5 pmol/min/mg, n=10) as measured by a Seahorse XFe24 analyzer. HG-treated pericytes displayed fragmented mitochondria in association with increased fission protein (DRP1) and decreased fusion protein (OPA1) expression. HG-treated pericytes displayed lower contractile capability than NG-treated cells (20.23 ± 7.15% vs. 29.46 ± 9.41%). The myogenic response was impaired in penetrating arterioles isolated from diabetic rats in comparison with non-diabetic rats. Autoregulation of CBF measured by a laser Doppler flowmeter was impaired in diabetic rats compared with non-diabetic rats. Diabetic rats exhibited greater BBB leakage than control rats. The cognitive function was examined using an eight-arm water maze. Diabetic rats took longer time to escape than the non-diabetic rats indicating learning and memory deficits. In conclusion, hyperglycemia induces pericyte dysfunction by altering mitochondrial dynamics and diminishing contractile capability, which promotes BBB leakage, decreases CBF autoregulation and contributes to diabetes-related dementia.


1999 ◽  
Vol 87 (3) ◽  
pp. 920-927 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kirby L. Zeman ◽  
Gerhard Scheuch ◽  
Knut Sommerer ◽  
James S. Brown ◽  
William D. Bennett

Effective airway dimensions (EADs) were determined in vivo by aerosol-derived airway morphometry as a function of volumetric lung depth (VLD) to identify and characterize, noninvasively, the caliber of the transitional bronchiole region of the human lung and to compare the EADs by age, gender, and disease. By logarithmically plotting EAD vs. VLD, two distinct regions of the lung emerged that were identified by characteristic line slopes. The intersection of proximal and distal segments was defined as VLDtransand associated EADtrans. In our normal subjects ( n = 20), VLDtrans [345 ± 83 (SD) ml] correlated significantly with anatomic dead space (224 ± 34 ml) and end of phase II of single-breath nitrogen washout (360 ± 53 ml). The corresponding EADtranswas 0.42 ± 0.07 mm, in agreement with other ex vivo measurements of the transitional bronchioles. VLDtrans was smaller (216 ± 64 ml) and EADtrans was larger (0.83 ± 0.04 mm) in our patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease ( n = 13). VLDtrans increased with age for children (age 8–18 yr; P = 0.006, n = 26) and with total lung capacity for age 8–81 yr ( P < 0.001, n = 61). This study extends the usefulness of aerosol-derived airway morphometry to in vivo measurements of the transitional bronchioles.


2001 ◽  
Vol 193 (11) ◽  
pp. 1303-1310 ◽  
Author(s):  
Detlef Dieckmann ◽  
Heidi Plottner ◽  
Susanne Berchtold ◽  
Thomas Berger ◽  
Gerold Schuler

It has been known for years that rodents harbor a unique population of CD4+CD25+ “professional” regulatory/suppressor T cells that is crucial for the prevention of spontaneous autoimmune diseases. Here we demonstrate that CD4+CD25+CD45RO+ T cells (mean 6% of CD4+ T cells) are present in the blood of adult healthy volunteers. In contrast to previous reports, these CD4+CD25+ T cells do not constitute conventional memory cells but rather regulatory cells exhibiting properties identical to their rodent counterparts. Cytotoxic T lymphocyte–associated antigen (CTLA)-4 (CD152), for example, which is essential for the in vivo suppressive activity of CD4+CD25+ T cells, was constitutively expressed, and remained strongly upregulated after stimulation. The cells were nonproliferative to stimulation via their T cell receptor for antigen, but the anergic state was partially reversed by interleukin (IL)-2 and IL-15. Upon stimulation with allogeneic (but not syngeneic) mature dendritic cells or platebound anti-CD3 plus anti-CD28 the CD4+CD25+ T cells released IL-10, and in coculture experiments suppressed the activation and proliferation of CD4+ and CD8+ T cells. Suppression proved IL-10 independent, yet contact dependent as in the mouse. The identification of regulatory CD4+CD25+ T cells has important implications for the study of tolerance in man, notably in the context of autoimmunity, transplantation, and cancer.


2013 ◽  
Vol 33 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Liang Du ◽  
Jingwan Zhang ◽  
Alexander Clowes ◽  
David Dichek

Background Autogenous vein grafts are effective therapies for obstructive arterial disease. However, their long-term utility is limited by stenosis and occlusion. Genetic engineering of veins that prevents intimal hyperplasia and atherosclerosis could significantly improve the clinical utility of vein grafts. We recently reported that a helper-dependent adenoviral vector (HDAd) reduces atherosclerosis 4 wks after gene transfer in fat-fed rabbits and can express a therapeutic transgene (apo AI) in normal rabbit carotids for at least 48 wks. Use of HDAd for vein graft gene therapy will depend on achievement of similarly high and persistent transgene expression in grafted veins. Hypothesis We tested the hypothesis that Ad-mediated transgene expression in grafted veins (at an early time point) can be increased by varying the timing of gene transfer. Methods Rabbit external jugular veins were transduced by exposure to a beta galactosidase (b-gal)-expressing Ad: in situ either without (a) or with (b) immediate arterial grafting; c) ex vivo with grafting after overnight incubation with Ad; d) in vivo immediately after grafting and e) in vivo 4 wks after grafting (n = 6 - 19 veins/group). Transgene expression was measured in veins removed 3 d after Ad exposure by PCR quantitation of b-gal mRNA and by en-face planimetry of blue-stained area. Results B-gal transgene expression was higher in ungrafted veins than in veins grafted immediately after gene transfer (84 ± 17 vs 9.4 ± 2.0 arbitrary units (AU); P < 0.0001). Overnight incubation of veins with Ad increased gene expression ex vivo by 10-fold but neither this nor performing vector infusion immediately after grafting improved gene expression (11 ± 4.7 and 9.1 ± 1.8 AU; P > 0.9 for both vs immediately grafted veins). Delaying gene transfer until 4 wks after grafting significantly increased gene expression, to a level equivalent to transgene expression in ungrafted veins (61 ± 11 AU; P = 0.3 vs ungrafted veins). En face planimetry yielded similar results. Conclusions Exposure of a transduced vein to arterial blood flow is associated with significant loss of transgene expression. Transgene expression in grafted veins is significantly higher when gene transfer is performed 4 wks after exposure of the vein to arterial blood flow.


2016 ◽  
Vol 17 (4) ◽  
pp. 721-734 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wichaya Sriuttha ◽  
Nantawat Uttamo ◽  
Apisek Kongkaew ◽  
Jongkolnee Settakorn ◽  
Suchanan Rattanasalee ◽  
...  

1990 ◽  
Vol 259 (6) ◽  
pp. E851-E855
Author(s):  
B. A. Meyer ◽  
S. W. Walsh ◽  
V. M. Parisi

Leukotrienes are synthesized during pregnancy and produce cardiovascular effects in adults. We hypothesized that leukotriene C4 would cause vasoconstriction in the fetus and placenta. Eight near-term, unanesthetized ovine fetuses were studied before and after infusion of 10 micrograms leukotriene C4 (LTC4) into the fetal vena cava. Cardiovascular monitoring of maternal and fetal arterial pressures and heart rates was performed. Fetal blood flows were measured by the radioactive-microsphere technique. Sustained elevations in systolic and diastolic blood pressure and decreased fetal heart rate began by 1 min and returned to baseline by 30 min. Arterial pH fell from 7.33 +/- 0.01 to 7.29 +/- 0.01 at 15 min (P less than 0.05) and to 7.29 +/- 0.01 at 30 min (P less than 0.05), with a significant increase in base deficit from 0.7 +/- 0.7 to 3.5 +/- 0.7 at 15 min (P less than 0.05) and to 2.9 +/- 1.0 at 30 min (P less than 0.05). Fetal PO2 and PCO2 were unchanged. Significant decreases in blood flow and resistance were seen in the umbilical placental circulation as well as in fetal skeletal muscle and intestine. Blood flow and resistance were unchanged in the renal and adrenal vascular beds. Fetal administration of LTC4 caused no changes in maternal cardiovascular parameters. These findings represent the first in vivo studies of the effects of a lipoxygenase metabolite on fetal-placental blood flow.


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