Collagen fibre orientation in human bridging veins

Biomechanics and Modeling in Mechanobiology - Bridging veins (BVs) drain the blood from the cerebral cortex into dural sinuses. BVs have one end attached to the brain and the other to the superior...     

Muscle fibre typing in the human pharyngeal constrictors and oesophagus: the effect of ageing

Myosin-ATPase fibre typing revealed type 1 predominance (81%) in the human oesophagus and type 2 predominance in the pharyngeal constrictor (33% type 1) indicative of widely different functions. Fibre diameters were around 30 microns, significantly smaller than skeletal muscle. No significant change in mean fibre diameter or percentage of fibre type was seen with ageing, but atrophy and compensatory hypertrophy led to an increased variability in fibre diameters with age. No sex differences were observed, probably reflecting a similar usage of these muscles and contrasting with skeletal muscle.     

The fibre type composition of the striated muscle of the oesophagus in ruminants and carnivores

Summary The fibre type composition of the striated muscle layer of the oesophagus of the cow, sheep, donkey, dog and cat was examined with standard histochemical methods and immunohistochemical staining using type-specific antimyosin sera. The heavy chain and light chain composition of oesophageal myosin was also examined using electrophoretic peptide mapping and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis respectively. In the ruminants and donkey the oesophagus was composed of fibre types I, IIA and IIC with immunohistochemical characteristics identical to those of the same fibre types found in control skeletal muscle. In the ruminants there was a gradient in the proportion of type I fibres from 1% (at the cervical end) to about 30% (at the caudal end).In the carnivores the oesophageal muscle was composed of a very small percentage of type I and IIC fibres, but the predominant type was very different hisotchemically and immunohistochemically from all the fibre types (I, IIA, IIB, IIC) present in the control muscles. This oesophageal fibre type (IIoes) had an acid- and alkaline-stable m-ATP-ase activity, a moderate histochemical Ca-Mg actomyosin ATPase activity, and reacted weakly with anti-IIA and antiIIB myosin sera. Although the light chains of the IIoes myosin were the same as the light chains of a mixture of IIA and IIB myosins, their respective heavy chains gave different peptide maps. Greater differences were obtained between the heavy chains of IIoes and other striated muscle myosins.These observations lead us to conclude that this predominant fibre type of the carnivore oesophageal striated muscle is of the fast type, and contains a distinct isoform of myosin similr but not identical to the other fast type myosins.     

The fibre type composition of the striated muscle of the oesophagus in ruminants and carnivores

The fibre type composition of the striated muscle layer of the oesophagus of the cow, sheep, donkey, dog and cat was examined with standard histochemical methods and immunohistochemical staining using type-specific antimyosin sera. The heavy chain and light chain composition of oesophageal myosin was also examined using electrophoretic peptide mapping and 2-dimensional gel electrophoresis respectively. In the ruminants and donkey the oesophagus was composed of fibre types I, IIA and IIC with immunohistochemical characteristics identical to those of the same fibre types found in control skeletal muscle. In the ruminants there was a gradient in the proportion of type I fibres from 1% (at the cervical end) to about 30% (at the caudal end). In the carnivores the oesophageal muscle was composed of a very small percentage of type I and IIC fibres, but the predominant type was very different histochemically and immunohistochemically from all the fibre types (I, IIA, IIB, IIC) present in the control muscles. This oesophageal fibre type ( IIoes ) had an acid- and alkaline-stable m-ATPase activity, a moderate histochemical Ca-Mg actomyosin ATPase activity, and reacted weakly with anti-IIA and anti-IIB myosin sera. Although the light chains of the IIoes myosin were the same as the light chains of a mixture of IIA and IIB myosins, their respective heavy chains gave different peptide maps. Greater differences were obtained between the heavy chains of IIoes and other striated muscle myosins. These observations lead us to conclude that this predominant fibre type of the carnivore oesophageal striated muscle is of the 'fast' type, and contains a distinct isoform of myosin similar but not identical to the other fast type myosins.     

Muscle fibre length-to-moment arm ratios in the human lower limb determined in vivo

The purpose of this study was to quantify in vivo the fibre length (L)-to-moment arm (d) ratio (L/d) in the major ankle plantarflexors and knee extensors of 21 healthy men. Measurements of L were taken in the gastrocnemius medialis, gastrocnemius lateralis, soleus, vastus lateralis and vastus intermedius muscles using ultrasound scanning. Measurements of d were taken in the Achilles tendon (d(AT)) and patellar tendon (d(PT)) using magnetic resonance imaging. The relations between (a) L in each ankle plantarflexor muscle and d(AT), (b) L in each knee extensor muscle and d(PT), and (c) d(AT) and d(PT,) were analyzed with Pearson correlation coefficients. There was no significant relation (P>0.05) between any of the above parameters, with the correlation coefficient values ranging from -0.2 to 0.29. These results contradict previous findings that L scales with d, indicating that skeletal size differences between individuals may not always be associated with predictable differences in muscle architecture. This needs to be accounted for when information about the L/d ratio of a given muscle-joint in a given individual is required, as for example is the case when assessing the suitability of a potential donor muscle in surgical tendon transfer.     

Telocytes in human oesophagus

Telocytes (TCs), a new type of interstitial cells, were identified in many different organs and tissues of mammalians and humans. In this study, we show the presence, in human oesophagus, of cells having the typical features of TCs in lamina propria of the mucosa, as well as in muscular layers. We used transmission electron microscopy (TEM), immunohistochemistry (IHC) and primary cell culture. Human oesophageal TCs present a small cell body with 2–3 very long Telopodes (Tps). Tps consist of an alternation of thin segments (podomers) and thick segments (podoms) and have a labyrinthine spatial arrangement. Tps establish close contacts (‘stromal synapses’) with other neighbouring cells (e.g. lymphocytes, macrophages). The ELISA testing of the supernatant of primary culture of TCs indicated that the concentrations of VEGF and EGF increased progressively. In conclusion, our study shows the existence of typical TCs at the level of oesophagus (mucosa, submucosa and muscular layer) and suggests their possible role in tissue repair.     

Biomolecular analysis of elastic fibre molecules

Elastic fibres are macromolecular extracellular matrix assemblies that endow dynamic connective tissues such as arteries, lungs and skin with the property of elastic recoil. Here, we describe how we have purified elastic fibre molecules and then analysed them using a range of biochemical and biomolecular approaches. Such approaches have provided powerful insights into the complex hierarchical processes of extracellular matrix assembly. We outline molecular interaction and kinetics assays using Biacore, biophysical approaches such as multi-angle laser light scattering and analytical ultracentrifugation which provide information on molecular and macromolecular shape and mass in solution, the visualisation of molecules and assemblies using microscopy approaches such as atomic force microscopy and environmental scanning electron microscopy, and compositional analysis of macromolecular complexes using mass spectrometry. Data from these in vitro analytical approaches can be combined to develop powerful new models of elastic fibre assembly.     

Collagen and mature elastic fibre organisation as a function of depth in the human cornea and limbus

A network of circumferentially oriented collagen fibrils exists in the periphery of the human cornea, and is thought to be pivotal in maintaining corneal biomechanical stability and curvature. However, it is unknown whether or not this key structural arrangement predominates throughout the entire corneal thickness or exists as a discrete feature at a particular tissue depth; or if it incorporates any elastic fibres and how, with respect to tissue depth, the circumcorneal annulus integrates with the orthogonally arranged collagen of the central cornea. To address these issues we performed a three-dimensional investigation of fibrous collagen and elastin architecture in the peripheral and central human cornea using synchrotron X-ray scattering and non-linear microscopy. This showed that the network of collagen fibrils circumscribing the human cornea is located in the posterior one-third of the tissue and is interlaced with significant numbers of mature elastic fibres which mirror the alignment of the collagen. The orthogonal arrangement of collagen in the central cornea is also mainly restricted to the posterior stromal layers. This information will aid the development of corneal biomechanical models aimed at explaining how normal corneal curvature is sustained and further predicting the outcome of surgical procedures.     

Applying elastic fibre biology in vascular tissue engineering

For the treatment of vascular disease, the major cause of death in Western society, there is an urgent need for tissue-engineered, biocompatible, small calibre artery substitutes that restore biological function. Vascular tissue engineering of such grafts involves the development of compliant synthetic or biomaterial scaffolds that incorporate vascular cells and extracellular matrix. Elastic fibres are major structural elements of arterial walls that can enhance vascular graft design and patency. In blood vessels, they endow vessels with the critical property of elastic recoil. They also influence vascular cell behaviour through direct interactions and by regulating growth factor activation. This review addresses physiological elastic fibre assembly and contributions to vessel structure and function, and how elastic fibre biology is now being exploited in small diameter vascular graft design.     

The role of dietary fibre in the human colon.

Several effects of dietary fibre on colonic function have been documented by experiment or deduced from epidemiologic observation. The magnitude of these changes depends on the source and the physical and chemical composition of the fibre used, and on the individual response of the subjects. Three theories of the mode of action of fibre are discussed; they relate to the water-holding capacity of fibre, the production of short-chain fatty acids from fibre in the colon and the alteration by fibre of the colonic microflora.     

Distribution and organization of the elastic system fibres in healthy human gingiva

Summary The ultrastructural distribution and organization of the elastic system fibres, i.e. oxytalan, elaunin and elastic fibres, were studied by transmission electron microscopy and by an immunohistochemical method for the detection of elastin in healthy human gingiva. The morphological distribution of these fibres was characterized by the presence of oxytalan, elaunin and elastic fibres, respectively, in the upper, medium, and deep layers of gingival connective tissue. Anti-elastin antibody reacted with microfibrils and amorphous material of the elastic system fibres throughout the gingival connective tissue. These findings were interpreted as indicating that the microfibrils were associated with small amounts of elastin at their surface.