Objective: To investigate the effects of ultrasound mediated microbubble destruction on capillary permeability in rat skeletal muscles.
Methods: Eighteen SD rats were randomized into 3 groups, namely the Evans blue (EB) group, EB+ultrasound (E+U) group and EB+microbubble+ultrasound (U+E+M) group with corresponding treatments, using EB injected into the carotid artery as the indicator for capillary permeability. The microbubbles were injected through the carotid artery with fixed ultrasound parameters. The spillover of EB was estimated under fluorescence microscope according to the visual staining scores. The contents of EB in the skeletal muscles were calculated according to the standard curve and spectrophotometry.
Results: EB spillover was observed around the capillaries in E+U+M group, which had a significantly higher visual score than EB group and E+U group (0 and 0-1, respectively, P<0.05). The EB content was 51.57-/+3.89 microg/g in E+U+M group, also significantly higher than those in EB group (28.99-/+4.67 microg/g) and E+U group (30.99-/+4.11 microg/g) (P<0.05).
Conclusion: Exposure to both ultrasound and microbubble contrast agents results in increased capillary permeability of rat skeletal muscles, which might be an important mechanisms for gene delivery enhancement by ultrasound contrast agents.
Download full-text PDF |
Source |
---|
Int J Mol Sci
December 2024
Institute of Physiology, University of Würzburg, 97070 Würzburg, Germany.
Nitric oxide-sensitive guanylyl cyclase (NO-GC) is a heterodimeric enzyme with an α- and a β-subunit. In its active form as an αβ-heterodimer, NO-GC produces cyclic guanosine-3',5'-monophophate (cGMP) to regulate vasodilation and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs). In contrast to VSMCs, only a few studies reported on the expression of the NO-GC αβ-heterodimer in human pericytes.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFTransl Vis Sci Technol
January 2025
Yale Cardiovascular Research Center, Department of Internal Medicine, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, CT, USA.
Purpose: Alteration of visual acuity in wet age-related macular degeneration (AMD) is mostly driven by vascular endothelial growth factor A (VEGF-A)-induced edema from leaky newly forming blood vessels below the retina layers. To date, all therapies aimed at alleviation of this process have relied on inhibition of VEGF-A activity. Although effective in preventing vascular leak and edema, this approach also leads to the loss of normal vasculature and multiple related side effects.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEur Cytokine Netw
September 2024
The blood-brain barrier (BBB) consists of a unique system of brain microvascular endothelial cells, capillary basement membranes, and terminal branches ("end-feet") of astrocytes. The BBB's primary function is to protect the central nervous system from potentially harmful or toxic substances in the bloodstream by selectively controlling the entry of cells and molecules, including nutrients and immune system components. During neuroinflammation, the BBB loses its integrity, resulting in increased permeability, mostly due to the activity of inflammatory cytokines.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFCell Commun Signal
January 2025
Department of Medicine, Division of Cardiology, Emory University School of Medicine, 1750 Haygood Dr NE, HSRB-II, Atlanta, GA, 30322, USA.
Background: Polymerase delta-interacting protein 2 (Poldip2) is a novel regulator of vascular permeability that has been shown to be involved in aggravating blood-brain barrier (BBB) disruption following stroke; however, the underlying mechanisms are unknown. While endothelial tight junctions (TJ) are critical mediators of BBB permeability, the effect of Poldip2 on TJ function has not been elucidated yet. Here, we aim to define the mechanism by which Poldip2 mediates BBB disruption, specifically focusing on phosphorylation and stabilization of the TJ integral protein ZO-1.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Mol Sci
December 2024
Department of Physics "G. Occhialini", Università degli Studi di Milano-Bicocca, Piazza Della Scienza 3, 20126 Milan, Italy.
Medullary thyroid carcinoma (MTC), a rare neuroendocrine tumor comprising 3-5% of thyroid cancers, arises from calcitonin-producing parafollicular C cells. Despite aggressive behavior, surgery remains the primary curative treatment, with limited efficacy reported for radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Recent efforts have explored the pathogenetic mechanisms of MTC, identifying it as a highly vascularized neoplasm overexpressing pro-angiogenic factors.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnter search terms and have AI summaries delivered each week - change queries or unsubscribe any time!