Accumulation of calcium and phosphorus accompanied by increase of magnesium and decrease of sulfur in human arteries

To elucidate the accumulation of elements in the arteries with aging, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in human arteries, such as the thoracic aorta, femoral, basilar, coronary, radial, and common iliac arteries by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The subjects consisted of 17 men and 9 women, ranging in age from 55 to 92 yr in the cases of the five arteries, except for the common iliac arteries, in which the subjects consisted of 16 men and 8 women, ranging in age from 65 to 93 yr. It was found that there were significantly direct correlations between calcium and phosphorus contents and between calcium and magnesium contents in all of the six arteries: thoracic aorta, femoral, basilar, coronary, radial, and common iliac arteries. Significantly direct correlations were also found between phosphorus and magnesium contents in the five arteries, except for the basilar artery. In contrast, significantly inverse correlations were found between calcium and sulfur contents and between phosphorus and sulfur contents in the four arteries, except for the coronary and radial arteries. These revealed that the accumulation of calcium and phosphorus in the arteries was accompanied by an increase of magnesium in the arteries and by a decrease of sulfur in the arteries.     

Shear stress and cyclic circumferential stretch, but not pressure, alter connexin43 expression in endothelial cells

Hemodynamic forces play a critical role in atherogenesis, as evidenced by the focal pattern of development of atherosclerotic lesions. Whereas disturbed flow in the branches and curved regions of large arteries is proatherogenic, laminar flow in the straight parts of vessels is atheroprotective. In addition, hypertension and age-related changes in arterial stiffness are important risk factors of the disease. Hemodynamic forces induce various changes in the structure and function of vascular endothelium, many of which reflect alterations in gene expression. Endothelial cells are linked by gap junctions, which facilitate the propagation of electrical and chemical signals along the vascular wall. Using an in vitro perfusion system, we investigated the effects of pulsed unidirectional and oscillatory flows in combination with different levels of hydrostatic pressure and circumferential stretch on the expression of Cx43 in endothelial cells. Our results show that shear stress and circumferential stretch, but not pressure, modulate the expression of Cx43. In view of the distribution of this protein along the vascular tree, our findings provide new insights into the role of mechanical forces on gap junctional communication in regions prone to the development of atherosclerosis.     

Shear Stress and Cyclic Circumferential Stretch, But Not Pressure, Alter Connexin43 Expression in Endothelial Cells

Hemodynamic forces play a critical role in atherogenesis, as evidenced by the focal pattern of development of atherosclerotic lesions. Whereas disturbed flow in the branches and curved regions of large arteries is proatherogenic, laminar flow in the straight parts of vessels is atheroprotective. In addition, hypertension and age-related changes in arterial stiffness are important risk factors of the disease. Hemodynamic forces induce various changes in the structure and function of vascular endothelium, many of which reflect alterations in gene expression. Endothelial cells are linked by gap junctions, which facilitate the propagation of electrical and chemical signals along the vascular wall. Using an in vitro perfusion system, we investigated the effects of pulsed unidirectional and oscillatory flows in combination with different levels of hydrostatic pressure and circumferential stretch on the expression of Cx43 in endothelial cells. Our results show that shear stress and circumferential stretch, but not pressure, modulate the expression of Cx43. In view of the distribution of this protein along the vascular tree, our findings provide new insights into the role of mechanical forces on gap junctional communication in regions prone to the development of atherosclerosis.     

B-mode and color Doppler ultrasound of the forearm arteries in the preoperative screening prior to coronary artery bypass grafting

The objective of this paper was to establish the normal findings of B-mode and color Doppler ultrasound of the forearm arteries in candidates for coronary artery bypass grafting with radial artery graft. Examination of radial and ulnar arteries was performed in 127 patients. The vessel diameters and peak systolic velocities were measured and the presence of atherosclerotic changes, calcifications and anatomical variants was assessed. Radial artery proved to be dominant forearm artery with non-significant side-to-side asymmetry. The luminal changes were present in 30% of the patients. Ulnar arteries were more prone to these changes than radial arteries (28.4% vs. 24.4%). The anatomical variants found included ulnar artery hypoplasia in 3.9% of patients and high brachial artery bifurcation in 2.4% of patients. No cases of high-grade stenosis or occlusion were found. The results of the present study indicate that B-mode and color Doppler are valuable methods for preoperative screening as they enable morphological and functional evaluation of the forearm circulation.     

Simultaneous accumulation of calcium, phosphorus, and magnesium in various human arteries

To elucidate compositional changes of the arteries with aging, the authors investigated the relationships among average contents of calcium, phosphorus, sulfur, and magnesium in the arteries by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. The arteries used were the thoracic and abdominal aortas, coronary, common carotid, anterior, middle and posterior cerebral, vertebral, basilar, internal thoracic, axillary, radial, truncus celiacus, common, internal and external iliac, femoral, popliteal, and umbilical arteries. It was found that high correlations were found between the average contents of calcium and phosphorus, between the average contents of calcium and magnesium, and between the average contents of phosphorus and magnesium in the arteries, but not between the average contents of sulfur and the other elements. These correlations revealed that as the content of calcium and phosphorus increased in the arteries, the magnesium content increased simultaneously in the arteries, but the sulfur content did not. It is likely that magnesium forms compounds with phosphorus in the arteries.     

Development of the vasculature of the pectoral fin in the Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri

The development of the vasculature of the pectoral fin in the Australian lungfish, Neoceratodus forsteri, was studied by the dye-injection method. Only a single primitive subclavian artery appears from the dorsal aorta for the fin anlage, and it passes laterally through the postaxial region of the structure. The venous channel draining into the posterior cardinal vein is located in the preaxial region medially. As development proceeds, the arteriovenous arrangement in the pectoral fin anlage changes as follows: 1) one artery and one venous plexus, 2) two arteries and one vein, 3) three arteries and one vein, 4) four arteries and one vein, 5) three arteries and two veins, and 6) two arteries (radial and ulnar) and three veins (radial, ulnar, and ulnar marginal). The fin anlage through embryonic first rotation has gradually changed its postaxial margin to face dorsally and its preaxial margin to face ventrally. The second rotation causes the original preaxial margin to become dorsal and the original postaxial margin to become ventral. As a result, the radial and ulnar arteries are observed in the dorsal and ventral regions, respectively, in the medial side of the fin instead of in the lateral side as seen in the previous stage.     

Identification of novel proteins and mechanistic pathways associated with early-onset hypertension by deep proteomic mapping of resistance arteries

Resistance arteries are small blood vessels that create resistance to blood flow. In hypertension, resistance arteries undergo remodeling, affecting their ability to contract and relax appropriately. To date, no study has mapped the hypertension-related proteomic changes in resistance arteries. Using a novel data-independent acquisition–mass spectrometry (DIA-MS) approach, we determined the proteomic changes in small mesenteric and renal arteries in pre- and early-onset hypertension from the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) model, which represents human primary hypertension. Compared with normotensive controls, mesenteric arteries from 12-week-old SHRs had 286 proteins that were significantly up- or downregulated, whereas 52 proteins were identified as up- or downregulated in mesenteric arteries from 6-week-old SHRs. Of these proteins, 18 were also similarly regulated in SHR renal arteries. Our pathway analyses reveal several novel pathways in the pathogenesis of hypertension. Finally, using a matrisome database, we identified 38 altered extracellular-matrix-associated proteins, many of which have never previously been associated with hypertension. Taken together, this study reveals novel proteins and mechanisms that are associated with early-onset hypertension, thereby providing novel insights into disease progression.     

高血压大鼠不同血管平滑肌肌球蛋白磷酸化和脱磷酸化酶的变化

本文比较了正常和高血压大鼠不同动脉血管肌球蛋白轻链激酶（ＭＬＣＫ）和依赖Ｃａ＾２＋的钙调素磷酸酶（Ｃａ＾２＋／ＣａＭ－ＰＰ）活性的变化。结果表明：在自发性高血压大鼠（ＳＨＲ）不同血管ＭＬＣＫ的活性不同,依次为主动脉（Ａ）〉尾动脉（ＣＡ）〉肠系膜动脉（ＭＡ）;而在ＷＫＹ大鼠,该酶在不同血管的活性依次为Ａ〈〈ＣＡ〈〈ＡＭ。在ＷＫＹ大鼠,ＭＡ Ｃａ＾２＋／ＣａＭ－ＰＰ活性明显高于ＳＨＲ。在肾性高血压大鼠     

Barium responsiveness of the rat aorta and femoral artery during pregnancy

The barium responses of isolated aortic strips and femoral arteries from non-pregnant and pregnant rats were investigated. Barium caused concentration-related increases in tension of vessels from both pregnant and non-pregnant rats. The concentration-response curves of femoral arteries from non-pregnant and 3 week pregnant rats were not different; however contractility and slopes of concentration-response lines for thracic aortas from 1, 2 and 3 week pregnant rats were significantly less than those of aortas from non-pregnant rats. In addition, barium caused rhythmic contractions to develop in both femoral arteries and aortas of 3 week pregnant rats more frequently than vessels from non-pregnant rats. Rhythmic contractions did not develop in aortas from 3 week pregnant rats rats in calcium-free Krebs. Since the effects of barium on the electrical and mechanical activity of various muscles have been postulated to be similar to and/or dependent on calcium, these results may indicate that changes in calcium sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle occur during pregnancy. Such changes may contribute to the blood flow redistribution and other cardiovascular adaptations of pregnancy.     

A comparison of arteries and veins in oxidative stress: producers, destroyers, function, and disease

Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are by-products of oxygen metabolism, normally present in low levels inside cells, where they participate in signaling processes. The delicate balance in the continuous cycle of ROS generation and inactivation is maintained by enzymatic and nonenzymatic endogenous systems. Overwhelming production of ROS (by such sources as the mitochondrial electron transport chain, NADPH oxidase, xanthine oxidase, or uncoupled nitric oxide synthase), when inadequately counteracted by destruction through antioxidant systems (such as superoxide dismutase or catalase), leads to a prooxidant state also known as oxidative stress. Increased levels of ROS and markers of oxidative stress have been consistently found in such cardiovascular diseases as atherosclerosis or hypertension, although controversy still exists over the pathophysiological role of oxidative stress in these conditions. ROS can modulate vascular function either by direct oxidative damage or by activating cellular signaling pathways that lead to abnormal contractile, inflammatory, proliferative, or remodeling properties of the blood vessel. Most current research focuses on these processes in arteries, leaving veins, "the other side" of vascular biology, in obscurity. Veins are different structurally and functionally from arteries. Equipped with a smaller smooth muscle layer compared to arteries, but being able to accommodate 70% of the circulating blood volume, veins can modulate cardiovascular homeostasis and contribute significantly to hypertension pathogenesis. Although the reports on the quantitative differences in ROS production in veins compared to arteries had conflicting results, there is a clear qualitative difference in ROS metabolism and utilization between the two vessel types. This review will compare and contrast the current knowledge of ROS metabolism in arteries versus veins in both physiological and pathophysiological conditions. Our understanding of the mechanisms underlying vascular diseases would greatly benefit from a more thorough exploration of the role of veins and venous oxidative stress.     

Structural alterations of blood vessels in hypertensive rats

Vascular changes in the mesenteric arteries were examined in three animals models for human essential hypertension. These models are: spontaneously hypertensive rats, which develop hypertension with age; Dahl model of genetic, salt-dependent hypertensive rats; and deoxycorticosterone-salt hypertensive rats. Morphometric measurements of the arterial wall components (e.g., endothelium, media) were carried out in the elastic arteries, muscular arteries, and arteriolar vessels from the mesenteric bed. The observed changes were correlated with the stages of hypertension development and the effect of antihypertension therapy, including sympathectomy. Specific emphasis was made to determine whether the changes observed were primary in nature, and related to the causes of hypertension, or they were secondary adaptive changes. A comparison of the three models showed that common changes in the intima, media, and adventitia were present in the three models. Alterations in the endothelium (e.g., enlargement of subendothelial space, necrotic changes), adventitia (collagen increase), and hypertrophy of the smooth muscle cells are secondary adaptive changes, because these changes occur subsequent to the development of hypertension, and antihypertensive therapy also prevent these changes from taking place. In contrast, hyperplasia of the smooth muscle cells is a primary change, because it occurs prior to the onset of hypertension. Functionally, alteration in the media is probably the most important change, because it can cause hyperreactivity of the arteries in response to stimulation. Damage to the endothelial cells may play a role in the maintenance of hypertension during the later phase. Alteration in adventitia is a passive change, which does not appear to have a major role in hypertension.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal arteries.

Two cases of severe fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal arteries are described in which the diagnosis was made 12 and 11 years after renal angiography had shown the arteries to be normal. The discovery of hypertension preceded the diagnosis by two and 11 years respectively, and in one case hypertension was present at the time of the normal renal angiogram. The report suggests that fibromuscular dysplasia of the renal arteries is acquired and may not be present from birth. The importance of regular review in cases of severe hypertension is emphasised.     

Venous stagnation induced by 7 dyas in HDT, in the cerebral, ophtalmic, renal and splancnhic territories

The scientific objectives was to quantify the vascular changes in the brain, eye fundus, renal parenchyma, and splanchnic network. Heart, Portal, Jugular, femoral veins were investigate by Echography. The cerebral mesenteric, renal and ophthalmic arteries were investigated by Doppler. Eye fundus vein an papilla were investigated by optical video eye fundus. The Left ventricle volume decreased as usual in HDT. The cerebral and ophthalmic vascular resistances did'nt change whereas the eye fundus papilla and vein, and the Jugular vein increased. These arterial and venous data confirm the existence of cephalic venous blood stasis without sign of intracranial hypertension. On the other hand the kidney volume increased which is in agreement with blood flow stagnation at this level. At last the Mesenteric vascular resistance decreased and the Portal vein section increased in HDT which is in favor of an increase in flow and flow volume through the splanchnic area.     

Automated measurement and statistical modelling of elastic laminae in arteries

Structural features of elastic laminae within arteries can provide vital information for both the mechanobiology and the biomechanics of the wall. In this paper, we propose, test and illustrate a new computer-based scheme for automated analysis of regional distributions of elastic laminae thickness, inter-lamellar distances and fragmentation furcation points (FPs) from standard histological images. Our scheme eliminates potential artefacts produced by tissue cutting, automatically aligns tissue according to physiologic orientations and performs cross-sectional measurements along radial directions. A statistical randomised complete block design and F test were used to assess the potential (non)-uniformity of lamellar thicknesses and separations along both radial and circumferential directions. Illustrative results for both normotensive and hypertensive thoracic porcine aorta revealed marked heterogeneity along the radial direction in nearly stress-free samples. Clearly, regional measurements can provide more detailed information about morphologic changes that cannot be gained by globally averaged evaluations alone. We also found that quantifying FP densities offers new information about potential elastin fragmentation, particularly in response to increased loading due to hypertension.     

The origin of the follicular capillaries in the human spleen.

The major arteries which supply the follicular capillaries in the human spleen do not arise as they do in most mammals as lateral or radial branches from the central artery but come from penicillar arteries which penetrate the marginal zone and enter the follicle at various points around its circumference. Such arteries may have a very short course through the red pulp or they may pursue very long courses. Upon entering the follicle, these arteries branch a number of times, the branches remaining together in a tight array of parallel arterioles along with capillaries formed from them, the whole bundle being enveloped by a reticular fiber sheath. There is thus formed an arteriolar-capillary bundle. The whole bundle may branch. From the sides, especially from its central end, arterioles and capillaries radiate out to all parts of the follicle to terminate in the marginal zone or in the follicle itself.     

On the detection of messages carried in arterial pulse waves

The hypothesis is made that a disturbance in blood flow at one place can be detected in the arterial pulse waves at a distant site. This hypothesis was motivated by the traditional Chinese medicine which uses arterial pulse waves as a principal means of diagnosis. We formulated a test by asking whether a disturbance to the blood flow in a leg can be detected by changes in the pulse waves in the radial arteries. In particular, we ask whether the radial artery can differentiate a disturbance in the right leg from that in the left leg. We put force transducers on the radial arteries, depressed them by a specific amount, and recorded the force waves in response to a 2-min occlusion of the blood flow in the right or left tibial artery. The results show that the radial artery force waves do change in response to the flow disturbance. For a given individual, the force varies with the location of the force transducer on the radial artery, the specific amount of initial depression, and the right or left leg occlusion. Generally, an occlusion in the right leg reduces the force level in both radial arteries, the more so in the right radial artery than in the left. Although the discrimination is not very strong, the phenomenon is novel, and warrants further investigation.     

Early calcification patterns of the iliac arteries and their relation to the arterial structure

Summary Gross calcifications of the common iliac and internal iliac arteries represent a common finding in newborn children and infants. In both arteries, the calcific deposits regularly appear in certain areas of the arterial luminal surface only, whereas the other parts of the arterial wall remain free of gross lesions even in cases with a pronounced calcification. In the common iliac artery, the lateral wall of the vessel and the adjacent sectors of the anterior and posterior wall represent the predilection site of calcific deposits. In the internal iliac artery, the gross calcifications have been regularly demonstrated in the dorso-medial wall. The predominant localisation of the calcification in these parts of the vessels and its absence in the others depend on the definite structural features of the arterial tube and different affinity for calcium of the individual structural elements. In both iliac arteries, only the primary internal elastic membrane undergoes early calcification. However, unlike the most muscular arteries, this membrane is not developed in the whole arterial circumference of the common iliac and internal iliac arteries, but is absent in large areas of their arterial luminal layer. In these areas, the subendothelial or subintimal elastic layers are formed by the networks of longitudinally arranged elastic fibers or membraneous elastic structures which arise from the elastic networks with the further growth. These elastic elements always stay free of calcific deposits. The structural features found in both iliac arteries may be important for the development of the later pathological changes.     

Comparison of pulmonary vascular function and structure in early and established hypoxic pulmonary hypertension in rats

In pulmonary hypertension, changes in pulmonary vascular structure and function contribute to the elevation in pulmonary artery pressure. The time-courses for changes in function, unlike structure, are not well characterised. Medial hypertrophy and neomuscularisation and reactivity to vasoactive agents were examined in parallel in main and intralobar pulmonary arteries and salt-perfused lungs from rats exposed to hypoxia (10% O2) for 1 and 4 weeks (early and established pulmonary hypertension, respectively). After 1 week of hypoxia, in isolated main and intralobar arteries, contractions to 5-hydroxytryptamine and U46619 (thromboxane-mimetic) were increased whereas contractions to angiotensins I and II and relaxations to acetylcholine were reduced. These alterations varied quantitatively between main and intralobar arteries and, in many instances, regressed between 1 and 4 weeks. The alterations in reactivity did not necessarily link chronologically with alterations in structure. In perfused lungs, constrictor responses to acute alveolar hypoxia were unchanged after 1 week but were increased after 4 weeks, in conjunction with the neomuscularisation of distal alveolar arteries. The data suggest that in hypoxic pulmonary hypertension, the contribution of altered pulmonary vascular reactivity to the increase in pulmonary artery pressure may be particularly important in the early stages of the disease.     

Comparison of calcium accumulation between the arteries of human and monkey

To examine whether an accumulation of elements in the arteries was affected by the way of walking, the authors investigated age-related changes of elements in the arteries of the Japanese, Thai, and Japanese monkeys. After the ordinary dissections by medical students were finished, the subclavian, axillary, brachial, radial, common iliac, externaliliac, femoral, and posterior tibial arteries were resected from the subjects of the Japanese and Thai over 60 yr of age and they were also resected from the Japanese monkeys over 20 yr of age. The element content was determined by inductively coupled plasma-atomic emission spectrometry. It was found that in an comparison between the arteries of anatomically corresponding regions, the average content of Ca was eight times or four times higher in the arteries of the lower limb than in the arteries of the upper limb in the Japanese or Thai, over 60 yr of age, respectively. In the Japanese monkeys over 20 yr of age, the average content of Ca was 1.2 times higher in the arteries of the lower limb than in the arteries of the upper limb. The result suggests that an accumulation of Ca in the arteries of the lower limb with aging is affected by the way of walking.