Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor expression from transduced vascular smooth muscle cells provides sustained neutrophil increases in rats

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) regulates granulocyte precursor cell proliferation, neutrophil survival, and activation. Cyclic hematopoiesis, a disease that occurs both in humans and grey collie dogs is characterized by cyclical variations in blood neutrophils. Although the underlying molecular defect is not known, long-term daily administration of recombinant G-CSF eliminates the severe recurrent neutropenia, indicating that expression of G-CSF by gene therapy would be beneficial. As a prelude to preclinical studies in affected collie dogs, we monitored hematopoiesis in rats receiving vascular smooth muscle cells transduced to express G-CSF. Cells transduced with LrGSN, a retrovirus expressing rat G-CSF, were implanted in the carotid artery and control animals received cells transduced with LASN, a retrovirus expressing human adenosine deaminase (ADA). Test animals showed significant increases in neutrophil counts for at least 7 weeks, with mean values of 3,670 +/- 740 cells/mu l in comparison to 1,870 +/- 460 cells/mu l in controls (p < 0.001). Thus, in rats G-CSF gene transfer targeted at vascular smooth muscle cells initiated sustained production of 1,800 neutrophils/mu l, a cell number that would provide clinical benefit to patients. Lymphocytes, red cells and platelets were not different between control and test animals (p > 0.05). These studies indicate that retrovirally transduced vascular smooth muscle cells can provide sustained clinically useful levels of neutrophils in vivo.

Vascular organization of the hystricomorph placenta: a comparative study in the Agouti, capybara, guinea pig, paca and rock cavy

The placental vasculature of five hystricomorph rodents was examined by latex injection of the blood vessels, immunohistochemistry and scanning electron microscopy of vessel casts. The pattern of branching of the vessels is described at the level of fine structure. The placenta is divided into lobes separated by interlobular trophoblast. Fetal arteries course through the interlobular areas and give rise to capillaries from which blood drains into veins at the centre of the lobes. Maternal blood reaches the placenta through spiral arteries that pass around the perimeter of the subplacenta. They supply large maternal blood sinuses, lined by trophoblast, which run through the interlobular areas and into the centre of the lobes. Here they supply fine channels that run parallel to the fetal capillaries, so that maternal blood flows from the centre of the lobe to the periphery. This arrangement provides the morphological basis for countercurrent exchange. The maternal channels of the labyrinth drain into spaces formed by the latticework of the interlobular trophoblast and thence through venous lacunae to a basal venous lacunar ring. The subplacenta is supplied by a single fetal artery. The vessels within the subplacenta pursue a tortuous course with dilatations and constrictions as in an endocrine gland. (C) 2003 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

CHANGES IN VASCULAR-RESISTANCE DURING CAROTID OCCLUSION IN NORMAL AND BARORECEPTOR-DENERVATED RATS

In the present study, we investigated changes in mesenteric, renal, and hindquarter vascular resistance during the pressor response produced by bilateral carotid occlusion (BCO) in conscious, freely moving normal and denervated (aortic, carotid, or both) rats. BCO was performed using special previously implanted cuffs. In control normal rats, the increase in mean arterial pressure (MAP) during early and late responses (37 +/- 4 and 21 +/- 2 mm Hg, respectively) was related to increased renal (125 +/- 12% and 45 +/- 10%) and mesenteric (38 +/- 13% and 41 +/- 5%) but not hindquarter (14 +/- 4% and 8 +/- 7%) vascular resistance. In aortic-denervated rats, the greater MAP increase in early and late responses (57 +/- 4 and 44 +/- 4 mm Hg, respectively) compared with normal rats was related to a marked increase in hindquarter (137 +/- 26% and 106 +/- 26%) and mesenteric (104 +/- 14% and 66 +/- 9%) vascular resistance. In carotid-denervated rats, MAP increase and change in vascular resistance were similar to those values observed in control rats. Sinoaortic-denervated rats showed a greater MAP increase (34 +/- 4 mm Hg) during late response and a reduced increase in renal vascular resistance (46 +/- 6%) during early response. The present results show that 1) the pressor response to BCO in normal rats is associated with an increase in renal and mesenteric vascular resistance, 2) the aortic baroreceptors buffer the increase in mesenteric and especially hindquarter vascular resistance during BCO, and 3) the reduced pressor response in late response is probably related to a reduced increase in renal vascular resistance during this component compared with the early response.

Vascular effects and electrolyte homeostasis of the natriuretic peptide isolated from Crotalus oreganus abyssus (North American Grand Canyon rattlesnake) venom

Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior (CAPES)

Immunohistochemical evaluation of prostaglandin E2 and vascular endothelial growth factor in canine cutaneous mast cell tumours

Fundação de Amparo à Pesquisa do Estado de São Paulo (FAPESP)

IFPA Meeting 2010 Workshop Report I: Immunology; Ion transport; Epigenetics; Vascular reactivity; Epitheliochorial placentation; Proteomics

Workshops are an important part of the IFPA annual meeting. At IFPA Meeting 2010 there were twelve themed workshops, six of which are summarized in this report 1. The immunology workshop focused on normal and pathological functions of the maternal immune system in pregnancy. 2. The transport workshop dealt with regulation of ion and water transport across the syncytiotrophoblast of human placenta. 3. The epigenetics workshop covered DNA methylation and its potential role in regulating gene expression in placental development and disease. 4. The vascular reactivity workshop concentrated on methodological approaches used to study placental vascular function. 5. The workshop on epitheliochorial placentation covered current advances from in vivo and in vitro studies of different domestic species. 6. The proteomics workshop focused on a variety of techniques and procedures necessary for proteomic analysis and how they may be implemented for placental research. (C) 2011 Published by IFPA and Elsevier Ltd.

Biodegradable Nanoparticles Containing Benzopsoralens: An Attractive Strategy for Modifying Vascular Function in Pathological Skin Disorders

Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq)

EFEITOS DA INFUSAO CONTINUA DO PROPOFOL SOBRE A FUNCAO RENAL DO CAO. ESTUDO COMPARATIVO COM O PENTOBARBITAL SODICO

Little research has been done with propofol in relation to renal function. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the continuous infusion of propofol on renal function in dogs. Sixteen dogs, previously anesthetized with pentobarbital sodium (30 mg.kg-1) for surgical preparation, catheterism and monitoring, were studied. The dogs were mechanically ventilated with air and received alcuronium (0.2 mg.kg-1 in bolus and 0.06 mg.kg-1 - maintenance). The following parameters were studied: heart rate (HR), mean arterial pressure (MAP), central venous pressure (CVP), aortic blood flow (A(o)BF - by electromagnetic flowmeter installed in the ascending aortic), aortic vascular resistance index (A(o)VRI), renal plasma flow (ERPF - by para-aminohipurate clearance), glomerular filtration rate (GFR - by creatinine clearance), effective renal blood flow (ERBF = ERPF/1 - hematocrit), urinary volume (UV), renal vascular resistance (RVR = MAP.80/ERBF.10-3), urinary sodium excretion (UE(Na)), fractionated sodium excretion (FE(Na)), osmolar clearance (C(osm)) and free water clearance (C(H2O)). These parameters were studied at 15 (M1), 30 (M2), 45 (M3) and 60 (M4) min after beginning pentobarbital sodium infusion (5 mg.kg-1.h-1). The dogs were allocated into two groups of eight animals each: G1 (control-pentobarbital sodium) and G2 (propofol). In G1, pentobarbital was given at the four times studied. G2 dogs received the same treatment as G1 dogs at M1 and M2; infusion of pentobarbital was substituted by propofol (3 mg.kg-1 bolus, followed by 12 mg.kg-1.h-1 continuous infusion) at M3 and M4. Profile Analysis was used to analyze the results statistically. In G1 (pentobarbital), there was a significant increase in RVR (M1 < M4) and a decrease in ERPF and ERBF (M1 > M4). In G2 (propofol) there was only a significant increase in A(o)BF (M1 < M2 = M3). In comparison among groups, these was a significant alteration of FE(Na) at M3 (pentobarbital > propofol). It was observed that the continuous infusion of propofol in dogs, at the given doses, did not alter the basic variables of renal function and hemodynamics studied. We concluded that propofol can be one of the drugs of choice to provide base anesthesia in studies of renal function in dogs.

Tensile strength and histological changes of abdominal aorta of malnourished rats

The resistance of the abdominal aorta of rats after 6, 7 and 8 weeks of malnutrition, compared with control animals, was evaluated by longitudinal tensiometry. Weakness of this vessel in malnourished rats was demonstrated; microscopic examination of the aorta stained by Masson, Calleja and hematoxylin-eosin methods showed a decrease in amorphous ground substance and an increase in the width of elastic laminae. There was no visible alteration either in the endothelial lining layer or in the smooth muscle fibers. Such alterations of the aorta are, to the authors' knowledge, the first reported modifications in the peripheral vasculature after malnutrition.

Alteration of soil properties through a weathering sequence as evaluated by spectral reflectance

In the study of physical, chemical, and mineralogical data related to the weathering of soils and the quantification of their properties, remote sensing constitutes an important technique that, in addition to conventional analyses, can contribute to soil survey. The objectives of this research were to characterize and differentiate soils developed from basaltic rocks that occur in the Parana state, Brazil and to quantify soil properties based on their spectral reflectance. These observations were used to verify the relationship between the soils and reflectance with regard to weathering, organic matter (OM), and forms of Fe. From the least to the most weathered soil, we used a Typic Argiudoll (Reddish Brunizem), Rhodudalf (Terra Roxa Estruturada), and Rhodic Hapludox (Very Dark Red Latosol). The spectral reflectances between 400 and 2500 nm were obtained in the laboratory from soil samples collected at two depth increments, 0- to 20- and 40- to 60-cm, using an Infra Red Intelligent Spectroradiometer (IRIS). Correlation, regression, and discriminant estimates were used in analyzing the soil and spectral data. Results of this study indicated that soils could be separated at the soil-type level based on reflectance intensity in various absorption bands. Soil collected in the 40- to 60-cm depth appeared to have higher reflectance intensities than those from the 0- to 20-cm depth. Removal of OM from soil samples promoted higher reflectance intensity in the entire spectrum. Amorphous and crystalline Fe influenced reflectance differently. Weathering of basaltic soils was correlated with alterations in the reflectance intensities and absorption features of the spectral curves. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that this technique was efficient in the estimation of clay, silt, kaolinite, crystalline Fe, amorphous Fe, and Mg through the use of reflected energy of the soils.