Related Experiment Videos
Behavior of postcapillary venule pericytes during postnatal angiogenesis
L Diaz-Flores1, R Gutierrez, H Varela
1Department of Anatomy and Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, La Laguna University, Canary Islands, Spain.
Journal of Morphology
|July 1, 1992
Summary
Bone marrow implantation activates pericytes in existing blood vessels, promoting new vessel growth and fibroblast formation during nerve repair. This study highlights pericyte plasticity in angiogenesis and tissue regeneration.
Area of Science:
- Regenerative Medicine
- Vascular Biology
- Nerve Tissue Engineering
Background:
- Autologous bone marrow transplantation is a potential therapeutic strategy for nerve regeneration.
- Understanding the cellular mechanisms driving angiogenesis and tissue repair is crucial for optimizing such treatments.
- Pericytes, cells residing in blood vessel walls, are increasingly recognized for their role in vascular maintenance and regeneration.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the behavior and fate of pericytes within existing microvasculature during bone marrow-induced angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation in a rat sciatic nerve model.
- To determine if preexisting pericytes contribute to the cellular components of newly formed granulation tissue.
Main Methods:
- Autologous bone marrow was implanted into a surgically created defect in the rat sciatic nerve, preserving the epineurium and microcirculation.
- Pericyte behavior, including morphological changes and DNA synthesis, was analyzed starting 20 hours post-implantation.
- Monastral Blue (MB) was used to trace the origin and migration of cells within the graft bed, focusing on pericytes and endothelial cells.
Main Results:
- Bone marrow implantation triggered significant hypertrophy and activation of pericytes in preexisting postcapillary venules, characterized by increased DNA synthesis and mitosis.
- A decrease in contact surfaces between pericytes and endothelial cells was observed.
- Monastral Blue labeling revealed that pericytes and endothelial cells from existing venules contributed to the formation of new vessels and granulation tissue, with some pericytes transforming into fibroblast-like cells.
Conclusions:
- Preexisting microvasculature pericytes are activated during postnatal angiogenesis and granulation tissue formation.
- These activated pericytes may serve as a source for new pericytes and fibroblasts, contributing to nerve tissue repair and regeneration.