Increased vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 was associated with impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation of cerebral and carotid arteries in simulated microgravity rats.
The aim of the present study was to investigate whether an expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) was upregulated in 3-week simulated microgravity rat cerebral and carotid arteries and whether impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation was concomitant with VCAM-1 expression. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were randomly divided into control (CON) and hindlimb unweighting (HU) groups. After 3 weeks, the expression of the VCAM-1 protein and the vasodilatation of the basilar artery and common carotid artery were determined. Immunohistochemical results revealed positive staining of VCAM-1 on endothelial cells in these arteries from HU compared with CON rats. Western blot analysis confirmed an upregulated expression of VCAM-1 protein in these arteries from HU rats. Acetylcholine induced concentration-dependent vasodilatation in all artery rings, but with significantly smaller amplitude in the basilar artery (P < 0.01) and the common carotid artery (P < 0.05) from HU than those from CON rats. The data suggested that the expression of VCAM-1 protein was upregulated in cerebral and common carotid arteries of simulated microgravity rats, and the upregulation of VCAM-1 may contribute to impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in simulated microgravity rat vasculature.
Zhang
Ran
R
Department of Cardiology, Xijing Hospital, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an 710033, China.
Jia
Guoliang
G
Bao
Junxiang
J
Zhang
Yuyang
Y
Bai
Yungang
Y
Lin
Lejian
L
Tang
Hao
H
Ma
Jin
J
D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000502:physiology*; D017536:Carotid Artery, Common / Q000502:physiology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism*; D006614:Hindlimb; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007537:Isometric Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008297:Male; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D015854:Up-Regulation / Q000502:physiology; D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1 / Q000378:metabolism*; D014657:Vasculitis / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000503:physiopathology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D018474:Weightlessness Simulation
D019010:Vascular Cell Adhesion Molecule-1; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; D000109:Acetylcholine