Rat aortic smooth muscle cells become pericytes during angiogenesis in vitro.

摘要: BACKGROUND : We previously reported that the intimal endothelium of rat aorta switches to a microvascular phenotype during angiogenesis in vitro. The microvessels formed by aortic are coated with pericytes. purpose this study was evaluate relation pericytes angiogenic process and identify site origin these cells wall. EXPERIMENTAL DESIGN Rings were cultured collagen gel under serum-free conditions. formation pericyte coating around aorta-derived evaluated counting living cultures. Pericytes endothelial studied immunohistochemistry, lectin labeling, electron microscopy, 3 H-thymidine labeling followed autoradiography, time-lapse video microscopy. capacity smooth muscle differentiate into coculturing intimal- or medial-derived overlay assay induced reorganization microvessels. RESULTS Microvessels early stages composed primarily cells. As vascular proliferation decreased, became migrated from root tip using as surface for attachment, proliferation, contact guidance. continuous myointimal aorta. positive α-smooth actin vimentin actively engaged DNA synthesis. Treatment cultures heparin caused marked reduction number Smooth isolated aspect toward differentiated when cocultured assay. Conversely, deep layers media had no significant tropism failed CONCLUSIONS This demonstrates contains subpopulation intimal/subintimal These have distinct respond cues contributing differentiation maturation can be used source vitro assembly histotypic