title: Culture of pericytes isolated from rat adipose microvasculature and characterization of their prostanoid production.
abstract: In order to investigate the role of pericytes (PCs) at microvascular level, a PC line from rat epididymal fat pads was isolated and its prostanoid production in culture was further examined. PC cultures were characterized morphologically by phase contrast and electron microscopy. PC prostanoid production was compared with that of a smooth muscle cell (SMC) line isolated from bovine aorta. The same PGI2 production magnitude was assayed in PC and SMC cultures, but TXA2 and PGF2 alpha synthesis was 8-10 times higher in the PC line. At 4-day postconfluence, when PC layers started retraction, prostanoid synthesis was significantly lower than at confluence. Histamine and bradykinin (both 100 nM) acted similarly, increasing the PGI2 basal production of PC cultures. The results argue for a possible contractile role of PCs at microvascular level.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Cellular Biology and Pathology, Bucharest, Romania.
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Eskenasy
authors.forename: S I
authors.initials: SI
authors.lastname: Tasca
mesh_terms: D000273:Adipose Tissue / Q000098:blood supply / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D015237:Dinoprost / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000378:metabolism; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D006632:Histamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D008833:Microcirculation; D051381:Rats; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000096:biosynthesis*
chemical_list: D013928:Thromboxane A2; D006632:Histamine; D015237:Dinoprost; D011464:Epoprostenol; D001920:Bradykinin