1. The mechanical and pharmacological properties of small pulmonary arteries (100-300 microns normalized lumen diameter) were directly compared with those of the left main pulmonary artery (1-2 mm) from the rat. The active and passive length-tension characteristics and responses to a variety of agonists and antagonists were dependent on arterial diameter. 2. Maximum contractile function was obtained in both groups of vessels when stretched so as to give an equivalent transmural pressure of 30 mmHg. This is substantially lower than that found for systemic vessels, and reflects the normal low pulmonary arterial pressure. 3. Noradrenaline was a powerful vasoconstrictor in large but not small pulmonary arteries (P less than 0.001). In contrast, bradykinin produced a significantly greater response in the small arteries (P less than 0.001). In comparison with large pulmonary arteries, small arteries were more sensitive to noradrenaline (P less than 0.05) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (P less than 0.001), less sensitive to endothelin-1 (P less than 0.001) and had the same sensitivity to prostaglandin F2 alpha. 4. The mechanism that maintains the low arterial tone of the pulmonary circulation is unknown, but it may involve the release of relaxing factors from the endothelium. In this preparation, basal resting tone could not be demonstrated in either large or small arteries. 5. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation of pre-contracted pulmonary arteries was reduced or absent in the small artery, despite histological evidence of an intact endothelium. In large arteries pre-contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha, acetylcholine (100 mumol/l) caused 88.2% relaxation compared with 25.2% in the small artery.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of zinc deficiency on chondrocyte proliferation, differentiation and apoptosis in the epiphyseal growth plate of juvenile chickens. Newly hatched broiler chickens were fed either a low zinc (10 mg/kg diet) or a zinc-adequate (68 mg/kg diet) soy protein-based purified diet. Cell proliferation in the growth plate was evaluated with bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) labeling. Apoptosis was assessed using the terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) method. Chondrocyte differentiation was evaluated with immunostaining of osteonectin as a marker of maturation. As early as d 3 of feeding, zinc deficiency significantly inhibited chondrocyte proliferation, promoted cell differentiation and induced cell apoptosis in the growth plate. These effects were manifested primarily in areas remote from the blood supply. Immunostaining for local growth factors such as insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) and fibroblast growth factor-2 (FGF-2) did not reveal any differences between growth plates of zinc-deficient and zinc-adequate chickens after 3 d of feeding. By d 7, severe growth plate lesions characterized by reduced cellularity and abnormally shaped cells were formed in areas remote from blood vessels. Immunoreactive IGF-1, PTHrP and FGF-2 were all greatly reduced in the lesion. However, the growth rate and food intake of zinc-deficient chickens were not different from those of the controls during the 7-d experiment. Therefore, a direct effect of zinc deficiency on proliferation, differentiation, and apoptosis of growth plate chondrocytes was indicated.
Tibial dyschondroplasia is a disease of rapid growth rate that occurs in many avian species. It is characterized by an avascular lesion in which the life span of the growth plate chondrocyte is essentially doubled. A characteristic pattern of gene expression and gene product localization has emerged that mimics the pattern observed with endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress in growth plate chondrocytes. This activates a cell-survival mechanism called autophagy. The initial phases of this mechanism appear to originate in the avascular transition zone of the growth plate. Because specific genes and gene products are associated with autophagy and ER stress, it should now be possible to identify the mechanisms involved in the development of this cartilage abnormality. The potential biochemical pathways responsible for initiating ER stress are discussed.
scite is a Brooklyn-based organization that helps researchers better discover and understand research articles through Smart Citations–citations that display the context of the citation and describe whether the article provides supporting or contrasting evidence. scite is used by students and researchers from around the world and is funded in part by the National Science Foundation and the National Institute on Drug Abuse of the National Institutes of Health.