Ex vivo generation of a functional and regenerative wound epithelium from axolotl (Ambystoma mexicanum) skin

Urodele amphibians (Ambystoma mexicanum), unique among vertebrates, can regenerate appendages and other body parts entirely and functionally through a scar-free healing process. The wound epithelium covering the amputated or damaged site forms early and is essential for initiating the subsequent regenerative steps. However, the molecular mechanism through which the wound reepithelializes during regeneration remains unclear. In this study, we developed anin vitroculture system that mimics anin vivowound healing process; the biomechanical properties in the system were precisely defined and manipulated. Skin explants that were cultured on 2 to 50 kPa collagen-coated substrates rapidly reepithelialized within 10 to 15 h; however, in harder (1 GPa) and other extracellular matrices (tenascin-, fibronectin-, and laminin-coated environments), the wound epithelium moved slowly. Furthermore, the reepithelialization rate of skin explants from metamorphic axolotls cultured on a polystyrene plate (1 GPa) increased substantially. These findings afford new insights and can facilitate investigating wound epithelium formation during early regeneration using biochemical and mechanical techniques.

Download Full-text

The Ultrastructure of Myocardial Cells in Normal and Cardiac Lethal Mutant Mexican Axolotls, (Ambystoma Mexicanum)

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100067303 ◽

1970 ◽

Vol 28 ◽

pp. 62-63

Author(s):

Larry F. Lemanski ◽

Eldridge M. Bertke ◽

J. T. Justus

Keyword(s):

Fine Structure ◽

Heart Development ◽

Osmium Tetroxide ◽

Picric Acid ◽

Ambystoma Mexicanum ◽

Recessive Mutation ◽

Acid Mixture ◽

Myocardial Cells ◽

Lethal Mutant ◽

Mexican Axolotl

A recessive mutation has been recently described in the Mexican Axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum; in which the heart forms structurally, but does not contract (Humphrey, 1968. Anat. Rec. 160:475). In this study, the fine structure of myocardial cells from normal (+/+; +/c) and cardiac lethal mutant (c/c) embryos at Harrison's stage 40 was compared. The hearts were fixed in a 0.1 M phosphate buffered formaldehyde-glutaraldehyde-picric acid-styphnic acid mixture and were post fixed in 0.1 M s-collidine buffered 1% osmium tetroxide. A detailed study of heart development in normal and mutant embryos from stages 25-46 will be described elsewhere.

Download Full-text

Arrangement of Mitochondria in Spermatozoa of the Mexican Axolotl, Ambystoma Mexicanum

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s042482010007357x ◽

1973 ◽

Vol 31 ◽

pp. 626-627

Author(s):

Ezzatollah Keyhani ◽

Larry F. Lemanski ◽

Sharon L. Lemanski

Keyword(s):

Plasma Membrane ◽

Sperm Motility ◽

Substrate Oxidation ◽

Ambystoma Mexicanum ◽

Axial Filament ◽

Mexican Axolotl ◽

Middle Piece

Energy for sperm motility is provided by both glycolytic and respiratory pathways. Mitochondria are involved in the latter pathway and conserve energy of substrate oxidation by coupling to phosphorylation. During spermatogenesis, the mitochondria undergo extensive transformation which in many species leads to the formation of a nebemkem. The nebemkem subsequently forms into a helix around the axial filament complex in the middle piece of spermatozoa.Immature spermatozoa of axolotls contain numerous small spherical mitochondria which are randomly distributed throughout the cytoplasm (Fig. 1). As maturation progresses, the mitochondria appear to migrate to the middle piece region where they become tightly packed to form a crystalline-like sheath. The cytoplasm in this region is no longer abundant (Fig. 2) and the plasma membrane is now closely apposed to the outside of the mitochondrial layer.

Download Full-text

The structure of the gills of the axolotl, Ambystoma mexicanum

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100128407 ◽

1987 ◽

Vol 45 ◽

pp. 824-825

Author(s):

Mohinder S. Jarial

Keyword(s):

Leydig Cells ◽

Secretory Granules ◽

Light And Electron Microscopy ◽

Cell Types ◽

Ambystoma Mexicanum ◽

Basal Cells ◽

Granular Cells ◽

Gill Filaments ◽

Mitotic Figures ◽

Apical Membranes

The axolotl is a strictly aquatic salamander in which the larval external gills are retained throughout life. The external gills of the adult axolotl have been studied by light and electron microscopy for ultrastructural evidence of ionic transport. The thin epidermis of the gill filaments and gill stems is composed of 3 cell types: granular cells, the basal cells and a sparce population of intervening Leydig cells. The gill epidermis is devoid of muscles, and no mitotic figures were observed in any of its cells.The granular cells cover the gill surface as a continuous layer (Fig. 1, G) and contain secretory granules of different forms, located apically (Figs.1, 2, SG). Some granules are found intimately associated with the apical membrane while others fuse with it and release their contents onto the external surface (Fig. 3). The apical membranes of the granular cells exhibit microvilli which are covered by a PAS+ fuzzy coat, termed “glycocalyx” (Fig. 2, MV).

Download Full-text

Correlation of γ-radioactivity and Scanning Electron Microscopy in measurement of retention of 111Indium-labeled canine endothelial cells on synthetic vascular grafts

Proceedings, annual meeting, Electron Microscopy Society of America ◽

10.1017/s0424820100156419 ◽

1989 ◽

Vol 47 ◽

pp. 886-887

Author(s):

E.J. Prendiville ◽

S. Laliberté Verdon ◽

K. E. Gould ◽

K. Ramberg ◽

R. J. Connolly ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Blood Flow ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Vascular Grafts ◽

Retention Data ◽

Vascular Prostheses ◽

Group 4 ◽

Human Fibronectin ◽

Insufficient Time ◽

Group 3 ◽

Group 2

Endothelial cell (EC) seeding is postulated as a mechanism of improving patency in small caliber vascular grafts. However the majority of seeded EC are lost within 24 hours of restoration of blood flow in previous canine studies . We postulate that the cells have insufficient time to fully develop their attachment to the graft surface prior to exposure to hemodynamic stress. We allowed EC to incubate on fibronectin-coated ePTFE grafts for four different time periods after seeding and measured EC retention after perfusion in a canine ex vivo shunt circuit.Autologous canine EC, were enzymatically harvested, grown to confluence, and labeled with 30 μCi 111 Indium-oxine/80 cm 2 flask. Four groups of 5 cm x 4 mm ID ePTFE vascular prostheses were coated with 1.5 μg/cm.2 human fibronectin, and seeded with 1.5 x 105 EC/ cm.2. After seeding grafts in Group 1 were incubated in complete growth medium for 90 minutes, Group 2 were incubated for 24 hours, Group 3 for 72 hours and Group 4 for 6 days. Grafts were then placed in the canine ex vivo circuit, constructed between femoral artery and vein, and subjected to blood flow of 75 ml per minute for 6 hours. Continuous counting of γ-activity was made possible by placing the seeded graft inside the γ-counter detection crystal for the duration of perfusion. EC retention data after 30 minutes, 2 hours and 6 hours of flow are shown in the table.

Download Full-text

Elevated level of circulatory sTLT1 induces inflammation through SYK/MEK/ERK signalling in coronary artery disease

Clinical Science ◽

10.1042/cs20190999 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 133 (22) ◽

pp. 2283-2299

Author(s):

Apabrita Ayan Das ◽

Devasmita Chakravarty ◽

Debmalya Bhunia ◽

Surajit Ghosh ◽

Prakash C. Mandal ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Risk Factors ◽

Coronary Artery Disease ◽

Coronary Artery ◽

Chronic Inflammation ◽

Ex Vivo ◽

Human Subjects ◽

Critical Role ◽

Atherosclerotic Cardiovascular Disease ◽

Tnf Α ◽

Artery Disease

Abstract The role of inflammation in all phases of atherosclerotic process is well established and soluble TREM-like transcript 1 (sTLT1) is reported to be associated with chronic inflammation. Yet, no information is available about the involvement of sTLT1 in atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Present study was undertaken to determine the pathophysiological significance of sTLT1 in atherosclerosis by employing an observational study on human subjects (n=117) followed by experiments in human macrophages and atherosclerotic apolipoprotein E (apoE)−/− mice. Plasma level of sTLT1 was found to be significantly (P<0.05) higher in clinical (2342 ± 184 pg/ml) and subclinical cases (1773 ± 118 pg/ml) than healthy controls (461 ± 57 pg/ml). Moreover, statistical analyses further indicated that sTLT1 was not only associated with common risk factors for Coronary Artery Disease (CAD) in both clinical and subclinical groups but also strongly correlated with disease severity. Ex vivo studies on macrophages showed that sTLT1 interacts with Fcɣ receptor I (FcɣRI) to activate spleen tyrosine kinase (SYK)-mediated downstream MAP kinase signalling cascade to activate nuclear factor-κ B (NF-kB). Activation of NF-kB induces secretion of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) from macrophage cells that plays pivotal role in governing the persistence of chronic inflammation. Atherosclerotic apoE−/− mice also showed high levels of sTLT1 and TNF-α in nearly occluded aortic stage indicating the contribution of sTLT1 in inflammation. Our results clearly demonstrate that sTLT1 is clinically related to the risk factors of CAD. We also showed that binding of sTLT1 with macrophage membrane receptor, FcɣR1 initiates inflammatory signals in macrophages suggesting its critical role in thrombus development and atherosclerosis.

Download Full-text

The Shikani HME: A New Tracheostomy Heat and Moisture Exchanger

Journal of Speech Language and Hearing Research ◽

10.1044/2020_jslhr-19-00107 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 63 (9) ◽

pp. 2921-2929

Author(s):

Alan H. Shikani ◽

Elamin M. Elamin ◽

Andrew C. Miller

Keyword(s):

Ex Vivo ◽

Moisture Loss ◽

Speaking Valve ◽

Time Zero ◽

In Series ◽

Turbulent Airflow ◽

The Difference ◽

Loss Efficiency ◽

Heat And Moisture ◽

Lung Simulation

Purpose Tracheostomy patients face many adversities including loss of phonation and essential airway functions including air filtering, warming, and humidification. Heat and moisture exchangers (HMEs) facilitate humidification and filtering of inspired air. The Shikani HME (S-HME) is a novel turbulent airflow HME that may be used in-line with the Shikani Speaking Valve (SSV), allowing for uniquely preserved phonation during humidification. The aims of this study were to (a) compare the airflow resistance ( R airflow ) and humidification efficiency of the S-HME and the Mallinckrodt Tracheolife II tracheostomy HME (M-HME) when dry (time zero) and wet (after 24 hr) and (b) determine if in-line application of the S-HME with a tracheostomy speaking valve significantly increases R airflow over a tracheostomy speaking valve alone (whether SSV or Passy Muir Valve [PMV]). Method A prospective observational ex vivo study was conducted using a pneumotachometer lung simulation unit to measure airflow ( Q ) amplitude and R airflow , as indicated by a pressure drop ( P Drop ) across the device (S-HME, M-HME, SSV + S-HME, and PMV). Additionally, P Drop was studied for the S-HME and M-HME when dry at time zero (T 0 ) and after 24 hr of moisture testing (T 24 ) at Q of 0.5, 1, and 1.5 L/s. Results R airflow was significantly less for the S-HME than M-HME (T 0 and T 24 ). R airflow of the SSV + S-HME in series did not significant increase R airflow over the SSV or PMV alone. Moisture loss efficiency trended toward greater efficiency for the S-HME; however, the difference was not statistically significant. Conclusions The turbulent flow S-HME provides heat and moisture exchange with similar or greater efficacy than the widely used laminar airflow M-HME, but with significantly lower resistance. The S-HME also allows the innovative advantage of in-line use with the SSV, hence allowing concurrent humidification and phonation during application, without having to manipulate either device.

Download Full-text