I-Labeled oxLDL Is Widely Distributed Throughout the Whole Body in Mice.

Purpose: Oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) plays a key role in endothelial dysfunction, vascular inflammation, and atherogenesis. The aim of this study was to assess blood clearance and in vivo kinetics of radiolabeled oxLDL in mice.

Methods: We synthesized I-oxLDL by the iodine monochloride method, and performed an uptake study in CHO cells transfected with lectin-like oxLDL receptor-1 (LOX-1).

Procyanidins are potent inhibitors of LOX-1: a new player in the French Paradox.

Lectin-like oxidized LDL receptor-1 (LOX-1) is an endothelial receptor for oxidized LDL (oxLDL) and plays multiple roles in the development of cardiovascular diseases. We screened more than 400 foodstuff extracts for identifying materials that inhibit oxLDL binding to LOX-1. Results showed that 52 extracts inhibited LOX-1 by more than 70% in cell-free assays.

LOX-1 mediates vascular lipid retention under hypertensive state.

Objectives: Hypertension is a powerful independent risk factor for atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases; however, the precise molecular mechanisms whereby hypertension promotes atherosclerotic formation remain to be determined. The interaction between oxidized low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL) and its receptor lectin-like oxidized low-density lipoprotein receptor-1 (LOX-1) plays a critical role in atherogenesis. To clarify how hypertension promotes atherosclerosis, we investigated specific roles of LOX-1 in acceleration of lipid deposition under a hypertensive state.

Microvascular hemodynamic responses to arteriovenous shunting in rat limb.

Autologus veins have been used clinically as a bypass conduit for reconstruction of small arteries, but there are few data available for microvascular response to arteriovenous (AV) shunting. This study was aimed to evaluate microvascular hemodynamic changes induced by creating AV anastomosis in rat hindlimb. Using intravital fluorescence videomicroscopy, we measured velocities of red blood cells (RBCs) flowing in the microvascular network in the control state, in the occlusion state where the superficial femoral artery (SFA) was occluded, and in the AV shunting state where the AV anastomosis was opened after occlusion of SFA.

Cell morphological changes in venous remodeling induced by arteriovenous grafting in rat limb.

Vascular remodeling induced in rat limb by arteriovenous (AV) shunting was investigated by evaluating changes in vascular diameter and cell morphology. In Wistar rats, a vein graft was implanted in situ in the hind limb. Flow-rate in the grafted vein was assessed by measuring flow in the common femoral artery using an ultrasonic flowmeter.

Heterogeneity of capillary flow in the retrograde microcirculation induced in rat limb by arteriovenous shunting.

Arteriovenous (AV) fistulas have been used clinically for improving adjunctive bypass patency. Such AV shunting induces retrograde flow in the microvascular network, which may induce microvascular remodeling and angiogenesis at the chronic phase. This paper was aimed to examine heterogeneity of blood flow among capillaries in the retrograde microcirculation induced by AV shunting.

Capillary angiogenesis and remodeling induced in rat limb by arteriovenous shunting.

Capillary angiogenesis and remodeling induced by arteriovenous (AV) shunting in rat hind limb was investigated by evaluating changes in capillary density and diameter in the skeletal muscle subject to retrograde flow and high pressure. Wistar rats were used, and an AV anastomosis was created in the hind limb. Two weeks after AV shunting, the microvasculature in the limb was visualized by GS-lectine, and the samples were observed using confocal laser microscopy.

[Immunohistochemical study for monoamine neurons in the brain of unilateral inner ear impaired rats].

Patients with inner ear impairment have complaints of vertigo and also occasionally depression. The present study was undertaken in order to evaluate changes in monoamines which have reportedly been closely related to depression, using cisplatin-induced unilateral inner-ear impaired rats. A dose of 0.

Measurement of red cell velocity in microvessels using particle image velocimetry (PIV).

A new technique using particle image velocimetry (PIV) has been developed to evaluate the detailed velocity profiles of red cells flowing in microvessels. The microcirculation in rat mesentery was directly observed using high-speed videomicroscopy, and the images of red cells flowing in the mesenteric arterioles were recorded simultaneously with the arterial blood pressure. Based on the high-speed videomicroscopic images obtained, velocity vectors in single or branched arterioles were evaluated to obtain velocity profiles across the cross-section of arterioles.

Maturity of pericytes in cerebral neocapillaries induced by growth factors: fluorescence immuno-histochemical analysis using confocal laser microscopy.

The maturity of pericytes in cerebral neocapillaries induced by two different growth factors: basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF), was examined using an immunohistochemical staining technique. Cerebral angiogenesis was induced in mice by implanting a sandwich system of bFGF/PDGF gel and nylon-mesh over the exposed cortex. On 28th day after incubation, a small volume of cerebral tissue with the nylon-mesh was isolated and stained using tetramethyl rhodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC)-labeled secondary antibody to the primary antibody against NG_2 proteoglycan and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)-labeled Griffonia simplicifolia (GS)-lectin.