Logo Medical Science Monitor

Call: +1.631.470.9640
Mon - Fri 10:00 am - 02:00 pm EST

Contact Us

Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor Logo Medical Science Monitor

Morphological changes of aortal smooth muscle cells exposed to calcitriol in culture

Cecylia Tukaj, Jolanta Kubasik-Juraniec, Michał Kraszpulski

Med Sci Monit 2000; 6(4): BR668-674 :: ID: 508115

Abstract

Background: A number of observations suggest that vitamin D plays an important role in maintaining normal cardiovascular function, through its receptors in cardiac muscle or in aortal smooth muscle cells (SMCs). The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of vitamin D active metabolite - calcitriol [1,25(OH)2D3/sub>] on aortal SMCs.
Material/Methods: The cells were isolated from the aortal media of newborn rats by enzymatic digestion and maintained for 6 weeks in primary culture. 1.2 µM of calcitriol was added to the medium every second day.
Results: Light microscopic investigations revealed that the control SMCs formed multilayer with characteristic 'hills and valleys'. Uniform cellular growth patterns were observed after calcitriol treatment. Ultrastructural studies indicated more rapid modulation of SMCs from the 'contractile' to the 'synthetic' phenotype following calcitriol treatment. Elastic fibers were more abundant in treated than in control cultures. The scanning electron microscope showed an increase of regular microvilli on the surface of SMCs. Morphometrical analysis of nuclei demonstrated phenotypic heterogeneity in populations of aortal SMCs. These results suggest that 1) calcitriol can induce changes in the phenotype and in the growth pattern of aortal SMCs, which may be associated with the onset or progression of the atherosclerosis process, 2) the basis of phenotypic changes is related to the stimulation of proliferative activity in these cells.

Keywords: electron microscopy, atherosclerosis, Calcitriol, Culture

Add Comment 0 Comments

Editorial

01 March 2024 : Editorial  

Editorial: First Regulatory Approvals for CRISPR-Cas9 Therapeutic Gene Editing for Sickle Cell Disease and Transfusion-Dependent β-Thalassemia

Dinah V. Parums

DOI: 10.12659/MSM.944204

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e944204

0:00

In Press

21 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research  

Potential Value of HSP90α in Prognosis of Triple-Negative Breast Cancer

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943049  

22 Feb 2024 : Review article  

Differentiation of Native Vertebral Osteomyelitis: A Comprehensive Review of Imaging Techniques and Future ...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943168  

23 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research  

A Study of 60 Patients with Low Back Pain to Compare Outcomes Following Magnetotherapy, Ultrasound, Laser, ...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.943732  

26 Feb 2024 : Clinical Research  

Predictive Value of Combined HbA1c and Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio for Diabetic Peripheral Neuropathy in...

Med Sci Monit In Press; DOI: 10.12659/MSM.942509  

Most Viewed Current Articles

17 Jan 2024 : Review article  

Vaccination Guidelines for Pregnant Women: Addressing COVID-19 and the Omicron Variant

DOI :10.12659/MSM.942799

Med Sci Monit 2024; 30:e942799

0:00

16 May 2023 : Clinical Research  

Electrophysiological Testing for an Auditory Processing Disorder and Reading Performance in 54 School Stude...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.940387

Med Sci Monit 2023; 29:e940387

0:00

14 Dec 2022 : Clinical Research  

Prevalence and Variability of Allergen-Specific Immunoglobulin E in Patients with Elevated Tryptase Levels

DOI :10.12659/MSM.937990

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e937990

0:00

01 Jan 2022 : Editorial  

Editorial: Current Status of Oral Antiviral Drug Treatments for SARS-CoV-2 Infection in Non-Hospitalized Pa...

DOI :10.12659/MSM.935952

Med Sci Monit 2022; 28:e935952

0:00

Your Privacy

We use cookies to ensure the functionality of our website, to personalize content and advertising, to provide social media features, and to analyze our traffic. If you allow us to do so, we also inform our social media, advertising and analysis partners about your use of our website, You can decise for yourself which categories you you want to deny or allow. Please note that based on your settings not all functionalities of the site are available. View our privacy policy.

Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750
Medical Science Monitor eISSN: 1643-3750