title: In vitro effects of PAF on venous endothelial cell actin disposition.
abstract: Venous endothelial cells have been stained in vitro for the contractile protein actin, using an immunofluorescence technique. Semi-automated image analysis showed that treatment with platelet-activating factor (PAF 5 x 10(-7) M) caused elongation of endothelial cells and alteration in their actin-staining characteristics. These changes are prevented by the PAF antagonist BN52021 (1 x 10(-5) M and 1 x 10(-6) M) and the absence of extracellular Ca++. It is suggested that it is the resultant decrease in intracellular Ca++ levels which is responsible for preventing the effects of PAF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacy, School of Health and Life Sciences, Leicester Polytechnic, UK.
authors.forename: A M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Northover
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000378:metabolism*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D004224:Diterpenes; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D046934:Ginkgolides; D007783:Lactones / Q000494:pharmacology; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D014682:Vena Cava, Inferior / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D004224:Diterpenes; D046934:Ginkgolides; D007783:Lactones; D010972:Platelet Activating Factor; C045856:ginkgolide B; D002118:Calcium