Details

Autor(en) / Beteiligte

• Reitsma, Sietze
• oude Egbrink, Mirjam G.A.
• Vink, Hans
• van den Berg, Bernard M.
• Lima Passos, Valéria
• Engels, Wim
• Slaaf, Dick W.
• van Zandvoort, Marc A.M.J.

Titel

Endothelial Glycocalyx Structure in the Intact Carotid Artery: A Two-Photon Laser Scanning Microscopy Study

Ist Teil von

• Journal of vascular research, 2011-01, Vol.48 (4), p.297-306

Ort / Verlag

Basel, Switzerland: Karger

Erscheinungsjahr

2011

Quelle

MEDLINE

Beschreibungen/Notizen

• Background: The endothelial glycocalyx (EG) is the carbohydrate-rich luminal lining of endothelial cells that mediates permeability and blood cell-vessel wall interactions. To establish an atheroprotective role of the EG, adequate imaging and quantification of its properties in intact, viable, atherogenesis-prone arteries is needed. Methods: Carotid arteries of C57Bl6/J mice (n = 22) were isolated including the bifurcation, mounted in a perfusion chamber, and perfused with fluorescent lectin wheat germ agglutinin-fluorescein isothiocyanate. The EG was visualized through the vessel wall using two-photon laser scanning microscopy. An image quantification protocol was developed to assess EG thickness, which was sensitive to hyaluronidase-induced changes. Results: In the lesion-protected common carotid artery, EG thickness was found to be 2.3 ± 0.1 µm (mean ± SEM), while the surface area devoid of (wheat germ agglutinin-sensitive) EG was 8.9 ± 4.2%. Data from the external carotid artery were similar (2.5 ± 0.1 µm; 9.1 ± 5.0%). In the atherogenesis-prone internal carotid artery the EG-devoid surface area was significantly higher (27.4 ± 5.5%, p < 0.05); thickness at the remaining areas was 2.5 ± 0.1 µm. Conclusion: The EG can be adequately imaged and quantified using two-photon laser scanning microscopy in intact, viable mounted carotid arteries. Spatial EG differences could underlie atherogenesis.