PubMed Health⌕ Search

Biomedical subjects

N Simionescu

Publications and source records attributed to N Simionescu.

At least 73 records · Page 4Linked to original sources
PubMed1982

Histamine receptors of the microvascular endothelium revealed in situ with a histamine-ferritin conjugate: characteristic high-affinity binding sites in venules.

Histamine covalently bound to glutaraldehyde-activated ferritin was prepared as either monomers or as small aggregates of approximately 0.05 to 0.15 micrometer Diam, suitable for electron microscopic detection of histamine cellular binding sites. The histamine-ferritin conjugates (MF) maintain the histamine capability to induce the opening of endothelial junctions in venules. To investigate the distribution of histamine receptors in the vascular endothelium, monomers or aggregates of MF were perfused in situ (mice), and various vascular beds, particularly that of the diaphragm, were fixed and processed for electron microscopy. The conjugate was preferentially bound on restricted areas of luminal endothelial cell plasmalemma especially in regions rich in filaments, and near the junctions between endothelial cells. The density of histamine binding sites was characteristically high in venules; it occurred to a much lesser extent in arterioles, veins, and muscular arteries whereas capillaries and aorta showed the lowest values. A similar distribution was obtained after perfusion of H1 or H2 receptor agonists coupled to ferritin (2-pyridylethylamine-ferritin [PF], or 4-methylhistamine-ferritin [MF], respectively). The binding specificity was assessed through control experiments with either native or activated ferritin or by competition with histamine. The findings suggest that histamine receptors are largely represented in the cell membrane of the vascular endothelium, particularly in venules. Experiments using specific H1 and H2 receptor agonists (PF and MF) and antagonists (mepyramine and cimetidine) indicate that the venular endothelium contains mainly H2 receptors.

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Differentiated microdomains on the luminal surface of capillary endothelium: distribution of lectin receptors.

Lectins conjugated with either peroxidase or ferritin were used to detect specific monosaccharide residues on the luminal front of he fenestrated endothelium in the capillaries of murine pancreas and intestinal mucosa. The lectins tested recognize, if accessible, the following residues: alpha-N-acetylgalactosaminyl (soybean lectin), beta-D-galactosyl (peanut agglutinin [PA] and Ricinus communis agglutinin-120 [RCA]), beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl and sialyl residues (wheat germ agglutinin [WGA]), alpha-L-fucosyl (lotus tetragonolobus lectin), and alpha-D-glucosyl and beta-D-mannosyl (concanavalin A [ConA]). Thi labeled lectins were introduced by perfusion in situ after thoroughly flushing with phosphate-buffered saline the microvascular beds under investigation. Specimens were fixed by perfusion, and subsequently processed for peroxidase detection and electron microscopy. Control experiments included perfusion with: (a) unlabeled lectin before lectin conjugate; (b) labeled lectin together with the cognate hapten sugar, and (c) horseradish peroxidase or ferritin alone. Binding sites were found to be relatively homogeneously distributed on the plasmalemma proper, except for Lotus tetragonolobus lectin and Con A, which frequently bound in patches. Plasmalemmal vesicles, transendothelial channels, and their associated diaphragms were particularly rich in residues recognized by RCA and PA (beta-D-galactosyl residues) and by WGA (beta-N-acetylglucosaminyl residues). Receptors for all lectins tested appeared to be absent or considerably less concentrated on fenestral diaphragms. The results reported here extend and complement previous findings on the existence of microdomains generated by the preferential distribution of chemically different anionic sites (Simionescu et al., 1981, J. Cell Biol., 9:605-613 and 614-621).

Animals↗
PubMed1982

Preferential distribution of anionic sites on the basement membrane and the abluminal aspect of the endothelium in fenestrated capillaries.

Cationized ferritin (CF) was injected interstitially to study the distribution of anionic sites on the basement membrane and abluminal aspect of the endothelium in the fenestrated capillaries of the mouse pancreas and intestinal mucosa. Extensive, but uneven removal of the basement membrane was obtained by collagenase perfusion of the vasculature before CF labeling. In the absence of collagenase treatment, CF label was essentially restricted to the lamina rara externa of the basement membrane and occurred in clusters distributed in a relatively ordered planar lattice. After collagenase digestion, labeling of the lamina rara interna and of the abluminal aspect of the endothelium became possible. In the lamina rara interna, the CF label occurred in clusters with a distribution comparable to that found in the lamina rara externa. On the abluminal aspect of the endothelium, the plasmalemma proper was extensively, though variably, labeled. Coated pits were heavily labeled, whereas the membranes and stomatal diaphragms of plasmalemmal vesicles and transendothelial channels remained free of CF decoration. In contradistinction with the heavy labeling of their luminal aspects, the abluminal surface of the fenestral diaphragms were free of any CF decoration. Pronase treatment removed all anionic sites detectable by CF binding. The findings establish the existence of differentiated microdomains on the abluminal aspect of the endothelial plasmalemma and suggest that the capillary wall selects permeant macromolecules according to charge, in addition to size.

Animals↗
PubMed1981

Differentiated microdomains on the luminal surface of the capillary endothelium. I. Preferential distribution of anionic sites.

Cationized ferritin (CF), introduced systemically in vivo or by perfusion in situ, binds preferentially to certain microdomains of the luminal plasmalemma of fenestrated capillaries (mouse pancreas and jejunum). The density and affinity of binding decrease in the following order: fenestral diaphragms greater than coated pits greater than plasmalemma proper. CF binds neither to the membrane of plasmalemmal vesicles and transendothelial channels nor to the corresponding stomatal diaphragms. The distribution pattern is the same when glutaraldehyde fixation precedes the administration of the tracer by perfusion, provided fixation is followed by quenching of residual free aldehyde groups. A much smaller cationic probe (alcian blue) perfused together with the fixative reveals a similar distribution pattern. The functional implications of the association of these microdomains with structures involved in capillary permeability are discussed.

Alcian Blue↗
PubMed1981

Differentiated microdomains on the luminal surface of the capillary endothelium. II. Partial characterization of their anionic sites.

To investigate the chemical nature of the cationic ferritin (CF)-binding sites of the differentiated microdomains of the capillary endothelium, the vasculature of the mouse pancreas and intestinal mucosa was perfused in situ with neuraminidase, hyaluronidase, chondroitinase ABC, heparinase, and three proteases: trypsin, papain, and pronase. Proteases of broad specificity removed all anionic sites, suggesting that the latter are contributed by acid glycoproteins or proteoglycans. Neuraminidase, hyaluronidase, and chondroitinase ABC reduced the density of CF-binding sites on the plasmalemma proper, but had no effect on either coated pits or fenestral diaphragms. Heparinase removed CF-binding sites from fenestral diaphragms and had no effect on coated pits. Taken together, these results indicate that the anionic sites of the fenestral diaphragms are contributed primarily by heparan sulfate and/or heparin, whereas those of the plasmalemma proper are of mixed chemical nature. The membranes and diaphragms of plasmalemmal vesicles and transendothelial channels do not bind CF in control specimens; this condition is not affected by the enzymic treatments mentioned above.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Enzymatic tracers in the study of vascular permeability.

Elucidation of the ultrastructural basis of vascular permeability was aided by the development of cytochemical techniques for visualizing the distribution, within the vessel wall, of intravenously injected peroxidatic enzymes of varying molecular size. Tracer enzymes available range from 10 A (hemeoctapeptide) to 52 A (catalase) effective molecular radius. The use of enzymatic probe molecules assumes a thorough characterization of: (a) the molecular charge (isoelectric point of the native enzyme, and when feasible, its polyanionic and polycationic derivatives; (b) effective molecular radius (ae); (c) peroxidase activity (to detect by spectrophotometry of DAB-oxidizing activity, the optimal pH, temperature, and enzyme concentration to be employed in the cytochemical procedure). Molecular shape and state of dispersion of the enzymatic probes should be determined by gel chromatography and spectrophotometry of both the tracer solution and aliquots of blood plasma collected after i.v. injection of the tracer. Conditions required for the probe administration include: (a) the investigation of potential side effects (tests for toxicity and vascular leakage) and (b) estimation of the tracer volume and concentration which does not affect significantly the blood volume and osmotic pressure. Determination in vitro of the crosslinking of tracer molecules induced by the aldehyde fixative to be employed, also gives an indication on potential diffusion artifacts. Based on the information thus obtained, the design of the cytochemical procedure should also take into account the possible use of methods for enhancing the peroxidatic reaction product: nitrogenous ligands (imidazole, diaminopyrimidine, histidine) or polyphenolic mordants (galloylglucoses). The usefulness of peroxidatic tracers in the investigation of vascular permeability is exemplified by some results obtained on the microvascular endothelium in vivo (trasncytosis, intercellular pathway, etc.), and on endothelial cells isolated from heart microvasculature.

Animals↗
PubMed1979

Structural aspects of the permeability of the microvascular endothelium.

This article reviews recent findings and current views concerning the structural aspects of microvascular permeability. The vascular endothelium is considered as a simple squamous epithelium which has acquired a remarkably high permeability to water and water soluble solutes (including macromolecules) through a characteristic process of differentiation of its cells. In terms of cellular structures, this differentiation involves an unusually large population of plasmalemmal vesicles. The evidence so far obtained indicates that these vesicles function as (1) mass-carriers of fluid and solutes across the endothelium and as (2) generators of transendothelial channels by concomitant fusion (followed by fission) with both domains (luminal and tissular) of the plasmalemma. The endothelial fenestrae of visceral capillaries are initially transendothelial channels subsequently collapsed to minimal length. The intercellular junctions of the endothelium are not detectably permeable to tracers of diam. greater than or equal to 18--20 A in capillaries, but are focally open to probes of 50--60 A diam. in postcapillary (pericytic) venules. A correlation is attempted between transendothelial channels (and fenestrae) and the pore systems postulated by the pore theory of capillary permeability. The channels appear to function as either small or large pores depending on the porosity of their associated diaphragms and on the size of local strictures along their pathway. Two main components are recognized in the analysis of capillary permeability: 1) a basic component comparable to that of other simple epithelia and involving transport across the plasmalemma and probably along the intercellular junctions (for molecules of diam. greater than or equal to 10 A); and a differentiated component which involves plasmalemmal vesicles and their derivatives (transendothelial channels and fenestrae). The postulated pores of the capillary endothelium are part of this differentiated component. The special situation found in postcapillary venules (focally open junctions) seems to be related to the role played by these vessels in inflammatory reactions.

Animals↗
PubMed1978

Open junctions in the endothelium of the postcapillary venules of the diaphragm.

We have previously established that approximately 30% of the endothelial junctions in the pericytic venules of the mouse diaphragm are open to a gap of approximately 30--60 A, and are fully permeated by hemeundecapeptide (H11P) (mol diam approximately 20 A). To estimate the size limit for molecules that can permeate these junctions, we have administered graded tracers intravenously and studied their behavior at the level of pericytic venules in bipolar microvascular fields (BMFs) in the mouse diaphragm. Horseradish peroxidase (HRP) (mol diam approximately 50 A) permeated only approximately 50% of the open junctions of the venular endothelium. Outflow through venular junctions appeared to be modest since the tracer remained restricted to the perivenular spaces. Hemoglobin (Hb, mol diam 64 x 55 x 50 A) permeated only a few (less than 5%), and ferritin (mol diam 110 A), practically none, of the endothelial junctions of the pericytic venules. The findings suggest that under normal conditions the size limit for permeant molecules for open venular junctions is approximately 60 A. Replicas of freeze-fracture preparations from appropriate regions in BMF showed that the intercellular junctions of the venular endothelium have the same organization as previously described for the corresponding segments of the microvasculature in the omentum and mesentery: discontinuous creases or grooves either free of or marked by few intramembrane particles only. Administration of histamine (topically or systemically) and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (topically) resulted in typical focal separations of the endothelial junctions and intramural deposits of large tracer particles (carbon black) in the postcapillary venules.

Animals↗
PubMed1977

Organization of cell junctions in the peritoneal mesothelium.

Intercellular junctions in the mesothelium of the visceral (mesentery and omentum), and parietal (diaphragm, pre-aortic, and iliac region) peritoneum were examined in rats and mice by using freeze-cleaved preparations. In addition to usual intercellular junctions (cell body junctions), special junctions are found between cell processes and the surface of the neighboring cell (cell process junctions). Cell body junctions are provided with tight junctions and communicating (gap) junctions. The former consist of one to two junctional strands which show a characteristic staggered arrangement, and focal discontinuities. In cell process junctions, the strands form loops or appear as short, free-ending elements; their polymorphism suggests considerable lability, probably in connection with their assembly and disassembly. The existence of free-ending strands indicates that such structures can be used as attachment devices without being concomitantly involved in the formation of occluding zonules. In both types of junctions, the strands can be resolved into bars, approximately 80- 100nm long, frequently provided with terminal enlargements and intercalated particles which occur singly or in small clusters. These particles are morphologically similar to those present in communicating (gap) junctions. The mesothelium is also provided with isolate composite macular junctions. Throughout the mesothelium, the cleavage plane follows the outer contour of junctional strands and particles, suggesting that strand-to-strand interactions in the apposed membranes are weaker than interactions between each strand and underlying cytoplasmic structures. In their general geometry and cleavage characteristics, the mesothelial junctions resemble the junctions found in the venular endothelium.

Animals↗