Rapid method for vital staining of fresh and stored corneas.

The vital staining of endothelium of fresh and stored corneas with fluorescence diacetate is described. This staining is suitable for critical examination of corneas before transplantation.

[The effect of vasoactive drugs on the uptake of adenosine by endothelial cells].

Eight drugs with vasodilatory effect of 32 vasoactive substances tested induce a significant inhibition of uptake of 3H-adenosine by cultivated calf aortic endothelial cells. These results are discussed as potentiation of the vasodilation activity of the drugs by adenosine.

[Do endothelial cells participate in the biotransformation of cyclophosphamide?].

Investigations with cyclophosphamide were done to answer the question of participation of the endothelium in biotransformation of xenobiotics. Cyclophosphamide inhibits the proliferation of cultivated endothelial cells only in high concentrations. Also after induction of the cells by phenobarbital or 2,5-diphenoxazole no increased toxicity of cyclophosphamide was observed.

Interaction of drugs and the adenosine-uptake system of endothelial cells may influence the regulation of the heart by adenosine.

The uptake of adenosine by endothelial cells may be an important step in the metabolic regulation of the heart blood flow by adenosine. Cultivated endothelial cells served as a model for investigations of the inhibitory activity of vasoactive drugs on adenosine uptake by vascular endothelium. Dipyridamole, papaverine, prazosine, and nifedipine inhibited the adenosine uptake.

[The effect of heparin on the relative myosin content of cultured smooth muscle cells of the pig aorta].

Heparin inhibits the proliferation of aortic smooth muscle cells cultured in serum containing culture medium and leads to an increase of their relative myosin content. Using plasma as medium supplement the effect of heparin is not observed. Thrombin is able to inhibit the increase of myosin content caused by heparin.

Influence of inhibitors of thrombin on porcine aortic smooth muscle cells in primary culture.

Heparin and synthetic inhibitors of thrombin are able to decrease the rate of division of porcine vascular smooth muscle cells in primary culture and to increase their myosin content. These effects are abolished by thrombin. Inhibitors of thrombin may therefore be useful in preventing arteriosclerotic lesions.

[Interaction of endothelial and smooth muscle cells of the pig aorta in primary culture].

In primary coculture of endothelial and smooth muscle cells, the muscle cells preserve their specialized phenotype (high myosin content) contrary to a pure smooth muscle cell culture. The addition of thrombin to the coculture-system results in loss of specialized phenotype of smooth muscle cell i.e.

[Long-term cultivation of calf aortic endothelial cells. Demonstration of the production of factor VIII antigen].

Endothelial cells were able to accomplish at least 120 cell doublings (60 passages) without any decrease of division speed. After that, the doubling time begins to increase. At passage 80, the number of cells was not doubled even after a period of 4 weeks.

[Establishment and characterization of the pig aortic endothelial cell line BSEz-3 in a serum-reduced medium].

The cell line BSEz-3 was established in a serum-reduced medium MEMPAS. The cells were isolated and cultivated under the same conditions as the calf aortic endothelial cell line BKEz-7. With regard to cell isolation and cell density in the stationary phase, BSEz-3-cells show characteristic differences from BKEz-7-cells.

[Effect of blood factors on the myosin content of cultured vascular smooth muscle cells].

Heparin, sodium butyrate, and the absence of platelet derived factors in the nutrient medium are able to inhibit the decrease of the content of myosin in cultivated arterial smooth muscle cells. Factor VIII and thrombin have no significant influence on this process.