Growth-related micromorphological characteristics of the porcine common carotid artery.

The purpose of this study was to gain knowledge about the micromorphology of the porcine common carotid artery (CCA) during the period of growth over the bodyweight range of 10-40 kg. CCA samples from German landrace pigs (DL) aged either 2 or 3 months (DL-2 and DL-3) were compared with samples from Göttingen minipigs (GM) aged either 18 or 40 months (GM-18 and GM-40) using transmitted light (phase-contrast mode) and transmission electron microscopy. The GM-18, GM-40 and the DL-3 groups had typical muscular artery histological characteristics.

Human microvascular endothelial cells displaying reduced angiogenesis and increased uptake of lipids during in vitro culture.

Human microvascular ECs from the neonatal foreskin of two donors purchased from one distributor were used in an angiogenesis assay under the same culture conditions. Different angiogenic potency was apparent in these two batches (ECang and ECnon-ang). During the cultivation period of three weeks, ECang ran through all stages of angiogenesis starting from proliferation to migration up to the formation of three-dimensional capillary-like structures.

In vitro angiogenic potency in human microvascular endothelial cells derived from myocardium, lung and skin.

Human microvascular endothelial cells derived from myocardium (HCMEC), lung (HPMEC) and foreskin (HDMEC) showed different angiogenic potency when cultivated in their original growth media provided by the distributors. In order to standardize microenvironmental conditions in an all-in-one assay of angiogenesis the aim of this study was to find one optimal growth medium for the endothelial cells derived from the different organs. Therefore each endothelial cell type was cultivated under identical conditions in the different original growth media as well as in several media formulations of the original growth media.