title: Labelling of rat endothelial cells with antibodies to vWF, RECA-1, PECAM-1, ICAM-1, OX-43 and ZO-1.
abstract: Labelling with endothelium specific monoclonal antibodies, von Willebrand Factor (vWF), rat endothelial cell antigen-1 (RECA-1), platelet-endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM-1), intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), OX-43 and zonula occludentes-1 (ZO-1), was investigated in cryostat sections of vessels from rats of different ages using a confocal microscope. The results showed that labelling of the vWF was positive in endothelial cells from adult, fetal and different ages of embryonic rat. Labelling with RECA-1 was weakly positive in adult rat aorta and lung endothelial cells but not in embryonic yolk sac endothelial cells. Labelling using PECAM-1, ICAM-1 and OX-43 was negative in both adult and embryonic endothelial cells. ZO-1 showed positive but very weak reactivity in embryonic yolk sac endothelial cells. The expression of vWF on vessels from adult and 19.5-day fetal tissues was strongly positive. However, the expression of vWF in embryonic endothelial cells was dependent on the gestational age. While the 11.5-day yolk sac vessels stained weakly, staining gradually increased in 13.5-, 15.5- and 17.5-day-old yolk sac vessels. The results suggest that vWF is a reliable endothelial cell marker in rat vascular endothelial cells, including both fetal and embryonic stages.
authors.affiliation: Department of Anatomy, University of Erciyes, Kayseri, Turkey. ulger@erciyes.edu.tr
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Ulger
authors.forename: A K
authors.initials: AK
authors.lastname: Karabulut
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: Pratten
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal / Q000276:immunology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000276:immunology*; D005260:Female; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal / Q000662:veterinary; D011247:Pregnancy; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D014018:Tissue Distribution; D014841:von Willebrand Factor / Q000276:immunology
chemical_list: D000911:Antibodies, Monoclonal; D014841:von Willebrand Factor