The role of oxidative stress in diabetic vascular and neural disease

This review will focus on the impact of hyperglycemia-induced oxidative stress in the development of diabetes-induced vascular and neural dysfunction. Oxidative stress occurs when the balance between the production of oxidation products and the ability of antioxidant mechanisms to neutralize these products is tilted in the favor of the former. The production of reactive oxygen species has been shown to be increased in patients with diabetes. The possible sources for the overproduction of reactive oxygen species is widespread and include enzymatic pathways, autoxidation of glucose and the mitochondria. Increase in oxidative stress has clearly been shown to contribute to the pathology of vascular disease not only in diabetes but also in hypertension, stroke and ischemia. Since the etiology of diabetic neuropathy is considered to have a large vascular component, prevention of oxidative stress in diabetes is considered by many investigators to be a primary defense against the development of diabetic vascular disease. Potential therapies for preventing increased oxidative stress in diabetes and the neural vasculature will be discussed.     

球囊拉伤兔髂动脉内膜的组织形态变化的研究

球囊拉伤血管内膜是目前研究血管内膜增厚,管腔狭窄的方便而切实的模型。因此,对其演变过程的形态学研究是必要的。方法：应用ＰＴＣＡ球囊导管拉伤兔髂动脉,用光镜、电镜和扫描电镜观察拉伤后不同时间的动态变化。结果：拉伤后各期变化不同,拉伤后１周内,以血细胞沉积为主,１周后,内膜开始增生,２至４周增生最快。增生活跃的内膜平滑肌细胞来自活化的中膜平滑肌细胞。内皮细胞增生极慢,４周内未见内膜内皮化,呈虫食样改变。结论：球囊拉伤兔髂动脉内膜,可引起血栓形成,炎症反应,平滑肌细胞增生和细胞外基质堆积,导致血管腔狭窄。此研究为今后的工作提供一定的客观依据     

兰花蕉花部维管束系统的解剖学研究

兰花蕉花梗的维管束分散排列．子房基部的维管束排成两部分,外方为一轮大维管束环,中央为分散排列的小维管束区。前者的纸管束进入子房壁,后者进入子房的中轴,形成股座纸管束;及至延长都以后,股座维管束逐渐消失．子房壁上的维管束较易识别的有心皮背束、心皮背束伴束和隔膜束．三束心皮背束经延长部最终进入花柱和柱头．心皮背束指心皮背束务与其紧靠的大维管束,三枚心皮背束伴束最终分别进入三枚外轮雄蓝．三枚隔膜束中远轴面的两枚分别进入两校内轮雄蕊,而近轴面的一枚伴随着第六枚雄蓝的缺失最后进入唇瓣中央．子房壁其余的维管束进入延长部后,先向外分出一轮纸管束进入花幕,余下的中央部分排成一轮心形的线管来环．该环远轴面的维管束分为两半分别进入两枚侧生花瓣;近轴面即心形凹陷一侧初为两轮即外轮大的维管束与内轮小的维管束,后排成一轮并与近轴面的隔膜束一同进入唇瓣．兰花蕉的唇瓣既为花瓣成员,又含一枚缺失的雄蓝维管束,与姜目已报道的只来自退化雄蕊的竹芋科的兜状结构和美人蕉科、姜科、闭鞘姜科的唇瓣有明显区别．在旅人蕉科尚未有研究资料的情况下,作者根据已有资料,对姜目雄蕊维管束系统来源和结构进行比较,初步认为在姜目的系统演化上,兰花蕉科与芭蕉料更近．     

iNOS在不同种属血管细胞中诱导表达差异的比较研究

为了探讨不同种属血管细胞中ｉＮＯＳ基因诱导表达的差异及其分子机制,采用Ｎｏｒｔｈ－ｅｒｎ印迹、电泳迁移率改变分析（ＥＭＳＡ）和细胞转染实验对ｉＮＯＳ基因在人、牛、大鼠血管内皮细胞（ＥＣ）和兔、大鼠平滑肌细胞（ＶＳＭＣ）中的诱导表达和转录调控机制进行了研究．结果显示,ＩＬ－１β可诱导人、大鼠的ＥＣ和大鼠的ＶＳＭＣ表达ｉＮＯＳ,但对兔ＶＳＭＣ和牛ＥＣ无诱导作用．在ＩＬ－１β＋ＴＮＦ－α＋ＬＰＳ作用下,人和大鼠血管细胞ｉＮＯＳ的表达活性显著高于牛和兔,同一种属动物的ＶＳＭＣ比ＥＣ更易被诱导活化．用含有大鼠ｉＮＯＳ基因上游－１０３７～－４３８片段的报告基因转染这些细胞,经细胞因子和ＬＰＳ处理后,被转染细胞的ＣＡＴ活性变化与细胞的ｉＮＯＳ表达活性相一致．上述结果表明,ｉＮＯＳ表达调节具有种属特异性和细胞特异性．ＥＭＳＡ证实在不同种属的ＥＣ和ＶＳＭＣ中,与ｉＮＯＳ基因表达调控区（－１０３７～－７８７）相互作用的蛋白因子是不均一的．提示不同种属血管细胞内特异转录因子的种类及浓度不同和（或）反式因子与顺式元件相互作用的方式不同可能是这种差异的分子基础．     

大鼠血管性痴呆模型海马组织中线粒体的变化

目的:观察血管性痴呆模型(Vascular dementia,VD)大鼠海马组织内线粒体超微结构、线粒体膜电位与空间学习记忆能力的变化。方法:健康成年雄性Wistar大鼠30只,随机分为假手术组(SHAM)和血管性痴呆(VD)组,每组15只。VD组行双侧颈总动脉结扎手术制备血管性痴呆动物模型,SHAM组手术步骤同VD组,但不结扎颈总动脉。于术后第29天起行Morris水迷宫测试大鼠空间学习记忆功能,第1-5天为定位航行试验,评估大鼠空间学习能力,第6天进行空间探索试验,评估大鼠空间记忆功能。采用透射电镜技术、流式细胞学技术分别检测大鼠海马组织线粒体形态和功能变化。结果:与SHAM组相比,血管性痴呆模型组大鼠Morris水迷宫试验中逃避潜伏期明显延长(P0.01),在目标象限中停留时间显著缩短(P0.01),空间学习记忆能力受损,血管性痴呆模型组大鼠海马组织线粒体超微结构有明显损伤,线粒体膜电位明显下降(P0.01)。结论:线粒体损伤是血管性痴呆空间学习记忆功能障碍的重要机制之一。     

Microvascular anatomy and histomorphology of extrapulmonary bronchi in adult Xenopus laevis Daudin (Lissamphibia; Anura) point to a role in aerial gas exchange – histomorphology of tissue sections and scanning electron microscopy of vascular corrosion casts

Studies on the amphibian respiratory tract microvascular anatomy are few. Using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) of vascular corrosion casts (VCCs) and light microscopy of perfusion‐fixed tissue sections, we studied the bronchial microvascular anatomy in the adult South African Clawed Toad, Xenopus laevis Daudin. Histomorphology showed that the bronchial wall consists (from luminal to abluminal) of squamous epithelium, subepithelial capillary bed, cartilage rings or cartilage plates, a layer of dense connective tissue, a layer of smooth muscle cells, and squamous epithelium (serosa). SEM of VCCs reveals that bilaterally a ventral, a dorsal (Ø 77.21 ± 7.61 μm), and a caudal bronchial artery supply the bronchial subepithelial capillary bed. The ventral bronchial artery has 3–4 branching orders (interbranching distances: 506.3 ± 392.12 μm; branching angles of first‐ and second‐order bifurcations: 24.60 ± 10.24° and 29.59 ± 14.3°). Casts of bronchial arteries display imprints of flow dividers and sphincters. Cranial and caudal bronchial veins (Ø 154.78 ± 49.68 μm) drain into pulmonary veins. They lack microvenous valves. The location of the dense subepithelial capillary meshwork just beneath the thin squamous bronchial epithelium and its drainage into the pulmonary veins make it likely that in Xenopus, bronchi assist in aerial gas exchange.     

Effects of serotonin on expression of the LDL receptor family member LR11 and 7-ketocholesterol-induced apoptosis in human vascular smooth muscle cells

Serotonin (5-HT) is a known mitogen for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). The dedifferentiation and proliferation/apoptosis of VSMCs in the arterial intima represent one of the atherosclerotic changes. LR11, a member of low-density lipoprotein receptor family, may contribute to the proliferation of VSMCs in neointimal hyperplasia. We conducted an in vitro study to investigate whether 5-HT is involved in LR11 expression in human VSMCs and apoptosis of VSMCs induced by 7-ketocholesterol (7KCHO), an oxysterol that destabilizes plaque. 5-HT enhanced the proliferation of VSMCs, and this effect was abolished by sarpogrelate, a selective 5-HT2A receptor antagonist. Sarpogrelate also inhibited the 5-HT-enhanced LR11 mRNA expression in VSMCs. Furthermore, 5-HT suppressed the 7KCHO-induced apoptosis of VSMCs via caspase-3/7-dependent pathway.     

The influence of steroids on vascular tension of isolated superficial veins of the nose and face during the estrous cycle of gilts

The arrangement of the superficial facial veins enables blood flow from the nasal cavity into the peripheral circulation by two pathways: through the frontal vein into the cavernous sinus and through the facial vein into the external jugular vein. The current study was designed to determine whether estradiol and progesterone affect the vascular tone of the superficial veins of the nose and face in cycling gilts (Sus scrofa f. domestica) and to analyze the immunolocalization of progesterone receptors and estradiol receptors in these veins. The influence of hormones on vascular tension differed depending on the type of vessel and the phase of the estrous cycle. Estradiol decreased vascular tension in the nasal vein during the follicular phase (P < 0.05) and increased tension in the frontal vein during the luteal phase (P < 0.05). Progesterone increased the vascular tension of the frontal vein (P < 0.05) and decreased the tension of the other veins (P < 0.05) in both phases of the cycle. Expression of estradiol receptor β but not of progesterone receptor was observed in the superficial veins of the nose and face. In conclusion, the effect of ovarian steroid hormones on the vascular tension of the superficial veins of the nose and face in female pigs as well as the reactivity of these veins to steroid boar pheromones can affect the blood supply from the nasal cavity to the venous cavernous sinus. We propose that the ovarian steroid hormones that modulate the vascular tension of the nasal and facial veins may also influence the action of boar pheromones absorbed into the nasal mucosa in gilts and may reach the brain via local destination transfer.