title: Isolation and culture of rat superior mesenteric artery smooth muscle cells.
abstract: The structure and function of vascular smooth muscle cells have been extensively investigated with the aid of in vitro culture techniques. The majority of studies have utilized aortic tissue as the source of cells. We present here a method for isolating and culturing smooth muscle cells of the rat superior mesenteric artery, an elasto-muscular vessel that is structurally and functionally different from the aorta. Cells were isolated from partially digested explants and characterized by immunochemical and biochemical techniques. Unlike cultured fibroblasts, the cultured cells stained positive for smooth muscle specific actin. The cells also produced laminin and type IV collagen in culture. This method provides a means for the isolation of large numbers of viable smooth muscle cells from the superior mesenteric artery which can be propagated in culture for in vitro study.
authors: Department of Anatomy, University of New Mexico School of Medicine, Albuquerque 87131.
authors: P G
authors: PG
authors: McGuire
authors: H M
authors: HM
authors: Walker-Caprioglio
authors: S A
authors: SA
authors: Little
authors: L J
authors: LJ
authors: McGuffee
mesh_terms: D000199:Actins / Q000032:analysis; D000818:Animals; D002455:Cell Division / Q000187:drug effects; D002469:Cell Separation / Q000379:methods; D003094:Collagen / Q000494:pharmacology; D046508:Culture Techniques / Q000379:methods; D004591:Electrophoresis, Polyacrylamide Gel; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005353:Fibronectins / Q000494:pharmacology; D005455:Fluorescent Antibody Technique; D015151:Immunoblotting; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007797:Laminin / Q000494:pharmacology; D017538:Mesenteric Artery, Superior / Q000166:cytology*; D008970:Molecular Weight; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology* / Q000187:drug effects; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D013936:Thymidine / Q000378:metabolism
chemical_list: D000199:Actins; D016326:Extracellular Matrix Proteins; D005353:Fibronectins; D007797:Laminin; D003094:Collagen; D013936:Thymidine