Morphometric analysis of the corneal endothelium of Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare) using scanning electron microscopy

The objective of this study was to examine the endothelial surface morphology and to perform morphometric analysis of the corneal endothelial cells of Yacare caiman (Caiman yacare) using scanning electron microscopy. Morphometric analysis with regard to polygonality, mean cell area, cell density and coefficient of variation of mean cell area was performed. Cell areas were measured using image analysis software. The normal corneal endothelium of Yacare caiman consisted of polygonal cells of uniform size and shape with interdigitations of the cell borders. Microvilli appeared as protrusions on the cellular surface. The average cell area was 270 +/- 24 microm(2) and the endothelial cell density was 3704 +/- 324 cells/mm(2). The coefficient of variation of cell area was 0.22. This study demonstrates that the Yacare caiman corneal endothelium is similar to those described in other vertebrates.     

Endothelial cells and angiogenesis in the horse in health and disease—A review

The cardiovascular system is the first functional organ in the embryo, and its blood vessels form a widespread conductive network within the organism. Blood vessels develop de novo, by the differentiation of endothelial progenitor cells (vasculogenesis) or by angiogenesis, which is the formation of new blood vessels from existing ones. This review presents an overview of the current knowledge on physiological and pathological angiogenesis in the horse including studies on equine endothelial cells. Principal study fields in equine angiogenesis research were identified: equine endothelial progenitor cells; equine endothelial cells and angiogenesis (heterogeneity, markers and assessment); endothelial regulatory molecules in equine angiogenesis; angiogenesis research in equine reproduction (ovary, uterus, placenta and conceptus, testis); angiogenesis research in pathological conditions (tumours, ocular pathologies, equine wound healing, musculoskeletal system and laminitis). The review also includes a table that summarizes in vitro studies on equine endothelial cells, either describing the isolation procedure or using previously isolated endothelial cells. A particular challenge of the review was that results published are fragmentary and sometimes even contradictory, raising more questions than they answer. In conclusion, angiogenesis is a major factor in several diseases frequently occurring in horses, but relatively few studies focus on angiogenesis in the horse. The challenge for the future is therefore to continue exploring new therapeutic angiogenesis strategies for horses to fill in the missing pieces of the puzzle.     

A comparative study between responses of isolated bovine and equine digital arteries to vasoactive mediators

Hemodynamic perturbations, partly resulting from abnormal vasoconstriction of digital vessels, have been implicated in the pathogenesis of bovine and equine laminitis. This study compared the responsiveness of isolated bovine (BDA) and equine (EDA) digital arteries to pharmacological agents that stimulate receptor systems involved in the regulation of normal vessel tone. The role of the endothelium and the short‐ and longer‐term effects of an experimentally induced endothelial damage were also evaluated. Species‐related differences were found in the vessel reactivity to all of the receptor agonists tested. In intact BDA, as compared to intact EDA, norepinephrine was a more effective vasoconstrictor, 5‐hydroxytryptamine a more effective but less potent vasoconstrictor, isoproterenol a less effective vasodilator and carbamylcholine a less potent vasodilator. In BDA, but not in EDA, the contractile responses to norepinephrine and 5‐hydroxytryptamine were enhanced immediately after endothelium removal. However, the contractile reactivity of denuded BDA returned to basal values following overnight incubation. The differences suggest species specificity for the pathophysiology of digital vasomotor tone and function in horses and cattle.     

普洱茶调节SD大鼠血脂及保护血管内皮的研究

采用治疗性给予普洱茶的方法,探讨普洱茶调节血脂、保护血管内皮及抗动脉粥样硬化的作用和机制。通过SD大鼠高脂饲料造模28 d后,给予不同剂量普洱茶35 d。试验期间检测所有动物的体重变化;试验结束后检测血脂水平及血浆一氧化氮（NO）,并进行主动脉病理组织学检查。结果表明,普洱生茶及熟茶组与模型组比较：（1）体重明显减轻;（2）血清总胆固醇（TC）、甘油三酯（TG）、低密度脂蛋白胆固醇（LDL-C）明显降低,血浆NO浓度增加;（3）主动脉血管壁内皮细胞损伤减轻,血管内皮素-1（ET-1）表达减少。通过研究认为,治疗性给予普洱茶,能够降低高脂饲料饲喂SD大鼠的体重及血脂水平,熟茶作用更显著;普洱茶具有保护血管内皮的作用,其作用机制可能与它促进NO合成,抑制ET-1合成有关。     

46例穿透性角膜移植术的改进

探讨穿透性角膜移植术全过程中改善移植预后的方法。方法：在４６例穿透性角膜移植过程中,注意手术过程中的各个环节,包括：新鲜或保存良好的供体角膜;手术过程中采用多种方法保护角膜内皮细胞;前取供体植片时前房注入１０ｇ／Ｌ玻璃酸钠,内皮侧冲切制作值入,将植入预预置缝合６针固定于植床再用１０ｇ／Ｌ玻璃酰内及眼用平衡盐溶液形成前房;适时拆线防止排斥反应的发生;及早治疗移植排斥反应。结果：术后随访３－３６个月     

促消化功能性韧性饼干的研制

鸡内金、陈皮、山楂是具有促消化作用的天然物质。通过正交试验确定三者在韧性饼干中的添加量,研制具有促消化功能的韧性饼干。在基本配方的基础上,确定最佳添加量(以面粉为基准)为:鸡内金1.0%,陈皮2.0%,山楂12.0%,可生产出色泽均匀、形状整齐、薄厚一致、酥松香甜、具有促消化功能的韧性饼干。     

The effect of protein binding on ivermectin uptake by bovine brain microvessel endothelial cells

The effect of albumin binding on ivermectin uptake and transfer across the endothelial component of the blood-brain barrier (BBB) was determined with anin vitro model comprised of bovine brain microvessel endothelial cell (BMEC) monolayers. Cellular uptake of ivermectin was limited in the absence of albumin and 90% inhibited in the presence of 10% albumin. Cell membrane association of ivermectin, as followed by fluorescent probe labelling, was observed only at high (micromolar) concentrations of the drug. Membrane association was about 75% inhibited in the presence of albumin. Similarly, transfer across BMEC monolayers was restricted, equivalent to that of BBB impermeant markers. Unlike the uptake studies, however, albumin had little effect on the transfer of ivermectin across BMEC monolayers. These results support recentin vivo findings on the distribution of ivermectin into the brain and suggest that ivermectin has only a limited affinity for the endothelial component of the normal BBB.     

Endothelium‐dependent relaxation mechanisms involve nitric oxide and prostanoids in the isolated bovine digital vein

Endothelial dysfunction contributes to the development of ungulate's laminitis. Although extensively studied in equines, the endothelial function is not fully examined in bovine digital veins (BDVs). BDVs were studied under isometric conditions to describe the acetylcholine (ACh) endothelium‐dependent relaxation. Concentration–response curves were constructed to phenylephrine, ACh, and sodium nitroprusside (SNP). Relaxation responses were evaluated using either phenylephrine or depolarizing high‐potassium Krebs solution (DKS) as precontraction agents. Endothelium denudation and incubation with L‐NAME (300 μM), indomethacin (10 μM) or both were used to explore endothelial‐mediated mechanisms. Endothelium denudation did not modify phenylephrine and SNP responses, however, significantly (p < 0.05) converted a relaxation (63.2 ± 5%) response to ACh into a contraction (30.3±9%). The ACh‐evoked relaxation was significantly (p < 0.05) reduced in the presence of indomethacin (37.5 ± 6%) and L‐NAME (6.40 ± 2%). The presence of both inhibitors abolished the ACh‐evoked relaxation. Although DKS caused a higher precontraction than phenylephrine, ACh‐evoked relaxation (22.4 ± 3.4%) was still observed and was reduced by the combination of inhibitors (7.0 ± 1.0%). The ACh endothelium‐dependent relaxation in BDVs is essentially mediated by nitric oxide and endothelium‐derived prostanoids. The BDV endothelium function is a dynamic component in the control of the bovine digital blood flow, particularly under endothelial dysfunction conditions when venoconstriction might lead to postcapillary resistance increase.