[Autoradiographic analysis of proliferative processes in the arterial terminal vascular system in experimental...

The participation of various vascular wall cells in the proliferation process and their distribution in the arterial terminal vascular bed were investigated by 3H-thymidine autoradiography in rats during an acute angiotensin hypertension. The results show that both the proliferative pattern and the distribution of labeled cells have distinct differences according to the functional importance and the histologic structure of the vessels. A common feature of all vascular parts is the enhancement of the proliferation of smooth muscle cells. In particular, the proliferation is increased in the arterioles, suggesting a structural adaptation to the raised vascular tonus. The strongly altered endothelium of peripheral vessels show a retarded reparative cell proliferation. This implies a considerable risk factor for the development of an arteriosclerosis in the circulatory periphery.