ISSN:
1573-6822
Keywords:
calcium handling
;
human vessels
;
phenotypic modulation
;
signaling mechanisms
;
vascular smooth muscle cells
Source:
Springer Online Journal Archives 1860-2000
Topics:
Biology
,
Medicine
Notes:
Abstract Relatively limited information is available regarding the mechanisms controlling vasomotricity in human vessels. Isolated vessels obtained from patients undergoing surgery were used to characterize the role of endothelial factors and to study coupling mechanisms between receptors, intracellular calcium, and contraction. However, these investigations are limited by the availability of tissues and many uncontrolled factors. Cultured human vascular cells were also used, were these cells rapidly lose at least some of their differentiated characters. Recently, a human blood vessel equivalent was constructed in vitro from cultured cells, using tissue engineering. This technique allowed us to obtain vessel equivalents containing intima, media, and adventitia layers or tubular media layer only. Contraction and rises in intracellular calcium produced by agonists were studied, indicating that such human vessel equivalents may provide valuable models for pharmacological studies.
Type of Medium:
Electronic Resource
URL:
http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/BF00438149
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