Differential processes of vascular smooth muscle cell differentiation within elastic and muscular arteries of rats and rabbits: An immunofluorescence study of desmin and vimentin distribution |
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Authors: | Kamel Kacem Jacques Seylaz and Pierre Aubineau |
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Institution: | (1) Laboratoire de Recherches Cérébrovasculaires, CNRS UA 641, Université Paris VII, Paris, France |
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Abstract: | Summary Two main populations of smooth muscle cells exist in the arterial media of adult mammals with respect to expression of two
intermediate filament proteins: vimentin-positive/desmin-negative cells (V+/D-) and vimentin-positive/desmin-positive ones
(V+/D+). However, it is still not understood how this phenotypic diversity is established. Since the proportion and the distribution
patterns of the two muscle cell populations depend both on the type of blood vessel and the species examined, the aim of the
present study was to determine and to compare their developmental origin in various artery segments from two different species.
Using confocal scanning laser microscopy and sections stained by means of immunofluorescence, the distribution patterns of
desmin and vimentin were compared in transverse sections of thoracic and abdominal aortas (elastic arteries) and of the femoral
artery (muscular artery) of newborn and adult rats (n=12) and rabbits (n=12). The comparison of sections labelled with specific antibodies showed the existence of a subpopulation of smooth muscle
cells in the aortas, but not in the femoral artery which expressed desmin in newborns but not in adults. These data suggest
that the phenotype of smooth muscle cells in elastic arteries but not in muscular arteries is modulated during development. |
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