Leukocyte membrane bleb and pseudopod formation in hypertension

Leukocyte activation, including adhesion molecule expression, oxygen radical generation and, in animal studies, pseudopod formation, is a hallmark of hypertension. This study examined pseudopod and bleb formation and demonstrates that leukocytes from hypertensive individuals are more susceptible to produce membrane blebs than leukocytes from normotensive individuals. Bleb formation is likely indicative of apoptosis, thus this observation adds to previous observations of increased apoptosis in various tissues in hypertension.

Mechanisms in Experimental Venous Valve Failure and their Modification by Daflon© 500 mg

OBJECTIVES

To characterize the acute response of the vein wall to venous hypertension and associated altered fluid shear stress and to test the effect of micronized purified flavonoid fraction (MPFF, Daflon 500), on this response.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A femoral arteriovenous fistula was created in Wistar rats (n=48). A cohort of 24 rats received oral treatment with MPFF (100 mg/kg/day body weight), 24 rats underwent the arteriovenous fistula procedure and received no treatment. At days 1, 7 and 21 the animals (n=8 at each time point) were killed. Experimental parameters measured included limb circumference, blood flow at the sapheno-femoral junction, leukocyte infiltration and gelatinase activity (matrix metalloproteinase, MMP).

RESULTS

The acute rise in venous hypertension was accompanied by limb edema and venous reflux together with an eventual loss of valve leaflets in the saphenous vein. There was an increase in granulocyte and macrophage infiltration into the venous wall and the surrounding tissue, and a lesser increase in T- and B-lymphocyte infiltration. These changes were accompanied by a local increase in the proteolytic enzymes, MMP-2 and MMP-9. Administration of MPFF reduced the edema and lessened the venous reflux produced by the acute arteriovenous fistula. Decreased levels of granulocyte and macrophage infiltration into the valves were also observed compared with untreated animals.

CONCLUSIONS

Venous hypertension caused by an arteriovenous fistula resulted in the development of venous reflux and an inflammatory reaction in venous valves culminating in their destruction. MPFF was able to delay the development of reflux and suppress damage to the valve structures in this rat model of venous hypertension.

Effects of buffered media upon growth and alkaloid production of Catharanthus roseus hairy roots

The influence of buffered media upon the growth and alkaloid productivity of Catharanthus roseus hairy root culture was examined. As expected, the buffers minimized shifts in the pH of the media and had slightly negative effects upon growth. The growth of the hairy roots remained optimal in unbuffered media. The specific yield of lochnericine was significantly lower in response to the addition of buffers, while tabersonine was significantly higher. In contrast, the specific yields of ajmalicine, serpentine, and horhammericine remained unchanged.