Matrix production of smooth muscle cells from rat aorta in vitro

Immunofluorescence microscopic methods served to demonstrate the production of the following matrix components in cultures of vascular smooth muscle cells from rat aorta: fibronectin; nidogen; heparan sulphate-proteoglycan (HS-PG); laminin; and collagen types I, III, IV, V, and VI. A time-dependence of synthesis and secretion could be shown for a number of components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), such as laminin. The results revealed the following estimated quantitative differences of the collagen types: type I > type III > types V and VI. A filamentous/fibrillar matrix and also occasionally a typical basal lamina could be demonstrated electron microscopically around the smooth muscle cells.