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Biomedical subjects

W Hollander

Publications and source records attributed to W Hollander.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources

Hypertension-induced changes in monoamine receptors in the prefrontal cortex of rhesus monkeys.

Hypertension affects approximately 60 million people in the United States. Recent studies have demonstrated that hypertension may produce progressive changes in the CNS. The present study is focused on reports in the literature that hypertension may significantly alter neurotransmitter systems, particularly dopamine (DA) and norepinephrine (NE). To address this, DA and norepinephrine (NE) receptor binding was assessed in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) of 15 male rhesus monkeys using on-the-slide in vitro assays for the DA1, NE alpha1 and NE alpha2 receptors as well as for the DA and NE uptake transporters. Eight monkeys underwent surgical coarctation of the mid-thoracic aorta which produced sustained, untreated hypertension as defined by a systolic pressure above 150 mm Hg. Compared with normotensive controls, chronic, untreated hypertension produced a significant decrease in DA1 and NE alpha1 receptor binding and an increase in DA uptake (DAU) receptor binding in the prefrontal cortex. While the mechanisms by which untreated hypertension alters DA and NE receptors is not known, the use of this non-human primate model should provide the means to uncover neurobiological changes that occur with untreated hypertension.

Animals↗

Age-dependent myelin degeneration and proteolysis of oligodendrocyte proteins is associated with the activation of calpain-1 in the rhesus monkey.

Myelin provides important insulating properties to axons allowing for propagation of action potentials over large distances at high velocity. Disruption of the myelin sheath could therefore contribute to cognitive impairment, such as that observed during the normal aging process. In the present study, age-related changes in myelin, myelin proteins and oligodendrocyte proteins were assessed in relationship to calpain-1 expression and cognition in the rhesus monkey. Isolation of myelin fractions from brain white matter revealed that as the content of the intact myelin fraction decreased with age, there was a corresponding increase in the floating or degraded myelin fraction, suggesting an increased breakdown of intact myelin with age. Of the myelin proteins examined, only the myelin-associated glycoprotein decreased with age. Levels of the oligodendrocyte-specific proteins 2',3'-cyclic nucleotide 3'-phosphodiesterase (CNPase) and myelin/oligodendrocyte-specific protein (MOSP) increased dramatically in white matter homogenates and myelin with age. Age-related increases in degraded CNPase also were demonstrable in white matter in association with increases in activated calpain-1. Degraded CNPase was also detectable in myelin fractions, with only the floating fraction containing activated calpain-1. The increases in the activated enzyme in white matter were much greater than those found in myelin fractions suggesting a source other than the myelin membrane for the marked overexpression of activated calpain-1 with age. In addition, CNPase was demonstrated to be a substrate for calpain in vitro. In summary, changes in myelin and oligodendrocyte proteins occur with age, and they appear to have a significant relationship to cognitive impairment. The overexpression of CNPase and MOSP suggests new formation of myelin by oligodendrocytes, which may occur in response to myelin degradation and injury caused by proteolytic enzymes such as calpain.

2',3'-Cyclic-Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases↗

Astrocytic hypertrophy and altered GFAP degradation with age in subcortical white matter of the rhesus monkey.

Reactive astrocytosis is a well known phenomenon that occurs in the normal aging process of the brain. While many studies indicate astrocytic hypertrophy and glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) content increase with age in the hippocampal formation of certain animal models, it is unclear whether these findings are generalizable to the primate and to other areas of the brain. In this study, we quantitatively assessed age-related changes in astrocytic cell size and density in a rhesus monkey model of normal aging. By GFAP immunohistochemistry, we observed an increase in GFAP(+) cell size but not density in all subcortical white matter areas of the frontal, temporal, and parietal cortices. No significant increases in astrocyte hypertrophy were observed in any gray matter area examined. In addition, Western blotting experiments showed increases in total and degraded GFAP content with age, suggesting altered degradation and possibly production of GFAP occur with age.

Aging↗

Microinfarction as a result of hypertension in a primate model of cerebrovascular disease.

Ten adult cynomolgus monkeys were studied as a non-human primate model of hypertensive cerebrovascular disease. Seven were made hypertensive by surgical coarctation of the aorta and three served as unoperated controls. After survival periods of 8-30 months, the brains were serially sectioned and surveyed for neuropathological changes. The most conspicuous change was minute areas of microinfarction in the white and gray matter. The lesions were of irregular shape with an average maximum diameter of less than 0.5 mm. They were slightly larger in the gray than in the white matter and appeared to be of different ages. Their area of predilection was the white matter of the forebrain, with smaller numbers in the cerebral cortex and scattered lesions elsewhere in the forebrain, brain stem and cerebellum. These microinfarcts did not correspond to usually described lesions in the human brain in hypertension or in other animal models of hypertensive cerebrovascular disease. We suggest that they represent an early change in the natural history of hypertensive neuropathology.

Age Factors↗

The effects of hypertension on cerebral atherosclerosis in the cynomolgus monkey.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: There is substantial clinical, pathological, and experimental evidence that hypertension aggravates atherosclerosis of the extracranial vessels. The present study assesses the effects of hypertension on the development of cerebral atherosclerosis in nonhuman primates fed an atherogenic diet. METHODS: The extent and severity of cerebral atherosclerosis were evaluated morphologically, morphometrically, and biochemically in atherosclerotic monkeys with and without hypertension. Atherosclerosis was induced by feeding a hypercholesterolemic diet for 12 months; hypertension was produced by surgical coarctation of the thoracic aorta. RESULTS: At autopsy, gross atherosclerotic lesions of the major cerebral arteries were observed in 15 of 16 atherosclerotic monkeys with hypertension compared with 5 of 16 atherosclerotic animals without hypertension. In the hypertensive-atherosclerotic group, 38.5% of the vessels examined showed gross involvement compared with only 3.4% of the vessels involved in the atherosclerotic group (P < .001). The lesions in the atherosclerotic group were generally mild, whereas those in the hypertensive-atherosclerotic group were severe and resulted in significant luminal narrowing and occlusion of vessels (P < .001). The small branches of the cerebral arteries also showed severe disease with luminal obstruction in the hypertensive-atherosclerotic group. The extent and severity of cerebral atherosclerosis were significantly related to the severity of the hypertension (P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: Hypertension is an important factor in cerebral atherosclerosis because of its accelerating effect on the disease. Nonhuman primate models may be useful in clarifying the role of hypertension and atherosclerosis in cerebral vascular disease.

Animals↗

Elevated expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 by vascular smooth muscle cells in hypercholesterolemic primates.

Atherosclerosis is marked by an overt inflammatory infiltrate, with enhanced recruitment of monocytes/macrophages observed in both human and experimental atherosclerosis. We previously determined that monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) accounts for virtually all of the chemotactic activity produced by vascular (aortic) smooth muscle cells in culture. We now report that arteries from a primate model of atherosclerosis with dietary-induced hypercholesterolemia exhibit increased levels of MCP-1 mRNA expression in vivo, whereas their normal counterparts demonstrate minimal MCP-1 expression. Furthermore, immunohistochemistry and in situ hybridization clearly indicate that the expression of MCP-1 protein and mRNA is in the smooth muscle cells of the medial layer of the artery and in monocyte-like and smooth muscle-like cells found in the overlying intimal lesion. These studies indicate that one of the responses to dietary hypercholesterolemia is the expression of MCP-1 by vascular smooth muscle cells. This expression, when augmented with other cellular and molecular factors, could significantly contribute to the recruitment of monocytes/macrophages to the vessel wall.

Animals↗

beta-VLDL-induced alterations in growth potentiating activity produced by mononuclear phagocytes.

This report describes the enhancement of growth potentiating activity produced by mononuclear phagocytes that were incubated with beta-migrating very low density lipoproteins (beta-VLDL). Conditioned media harvested from cultured human peripheral blood monocytes incubated in the presence or absence of the lipoprotein were evaluated for their ability to stimulate DNA synthesis ([3H]thymidine incorporation) of sparsely seeded quiescent BHK-21 (BHK) cells as well as neonatal rat aortic smooth muscle cells (NRSMC). Conditioned media from monocytes incubated in the presence of beta-VLDL enhanced [3H]thymidine incorporation into DNA of both BHK and NRSMC, when compared to conditioned media harvested from monocytes incubated in the absence of beta-VLDL. Studying NRSMC, this effect was evident using media collected from monocytes incubated with lipoprotein for 2 days; however, a longer incubation of monocytes plus lipoprotein was necessary to induce changes in growth potentiating activity for BHK cells. Likewise, the effect of beta-VLDL treatment of thioglycollate broth elicited BALB/c mouse peritoneal macrophages was evaluated. Conditioned media from lipoprotein-treated macrophages exhibited greater growth-stimulating activity for both BHK cells and NRSMC when compared to conditioned media from macrophages incubated in the absence of the lipoprotein. beta-VLDL did not affect viability of the mononuclear cells. These findings further implicate the involvement of the monocyte-derived foam cell in the development of atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

Occurrence of stroke in a nonhuman primate model of cerebrovascular disease.

A relation between hypertension, atherosclerosis, and stroke is well documented in humans. We report a similar relation in two hypertensive cynomolgus monkeys with severe cerebral atherosclerosis. In our primate model hypertension is induced by surgical coarctation of the aorta. These monkeys, when fed an atherogenic diet, develop severe cerebrovascular atherosclerosis. In this setting two monkeys developed spontaneous cerebral hemispheric strokes that occurred during treatment of hypertension. Since the strokes were topographically related to severe atherosclerotic narrowing of cerebral arteries and occurred without evidence of either thrombosis or embolization, they are presumed to be related to disturbances of blood flow. In both humans and animals cerebral perfusion is autoregulated to a constant flow over a wide range of mean arterial blood pressures. In hypertension both the upper and lower limits of autoregulation are increased. With treatment of hypertension readaptation to more normal levels is reported to be inconsistent and slow to develop. It is therefore postulated that the strokes in these two monkeys were due to hypoperfusion as a result of the combination of pharmacologic reduction in blood pressure and severe occlusive atherosclerosis.

Animals↗

Changes in the connective tissue proteins, glycosaminoglycans and calcium in the arteries of the cynomolgus monkey during atherosclerotic induction and regression.

The chemical composition of the aorta, carotid, coronary and cerebral arteries of the cynomolgus monkey was determined during the induction and 'regression' of atherosclerosis. The feeding of a 2% cholesterol and 10% butter diet for 6 months resulted in extensive and severe atherosclerosis involving the aorta, carotid and coronary arteries. The involvement of these vessels was reflected by increases in arterial weight and chemical content of cholesterol, collagen, elastin, glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) and calcium. The cerebral arteries, which showed no atherosclerotic involvement, likewise showed no significant changes in weight and composition. During the 12-month regression period marked changes in the chemical composition of the involved arteries occurred and these included further increases in the collagen, GAG and calcium content of the vessels and decreases in the free and esterified cholesterol content. These changes were consistent with the gross and microscopic findings which revealed that during regression the pre-established lesions had not decreased in size but had become more fibrotic and calcified while the number of foam cells and amount of lipid contained in the lesion had decreased. During induction and regression, much of the cholesterol contained in the involved vessels appeared to be present in a crystalline form as indicated by the appearance of cholesterol clefts in the lesions. Aortic collagen was not altered with respect to amino acid composition and behavior in acrylamide gels throughout the study. However, elastin prepared by hot alkali treatment from diseased vessels, showed minor changes in amino acids during induction and marked changes during regression presumably due to the binding of glycoproteins to the elastin. The GAG composition of the involved arteries did not change during induction, whereas during regression the percent dermatan sulfate increased while the percent of heparan sulfate decreased. The over-all findings are consistent with the concept that the interaction of the connective tissue proteins with the GAGs, lipoproteins and calcium of the artery plays an important role in the development and regression of advanced atherosclerotic disease.

Animals↗

A method to evaluate the biosynthesis of glycosaminoglycans by the aorta of Cynomolgus monkey.

The biosynthesis of the glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) was investigated in vitro in the aortic tissue of the Cynomolgus monkey incubated with [14C]glucosamine. With the use of a new micromethod, it was possible to quantify the glycosaminoglycans and their radioactive distribution in the aortic tissue and incubation medium. Labeled and nonlabeled chondroitin 6-sulfate, dermatan sulfate, heparan sulfate and hyaluronic acid were measured. Since the sensitivity of this procedure is between 5 and 20 micrograms of GAGs, as little as 5 mg of dry defatted aortic tissue is sufficient for chemical and radioactive analyses.

Animals↗

Synthesis of glycosaminoglycans by cultured rabbit smooth muscle cells.

Rabbit aortic smooth muscle cells were evaluated for their ability to synthesize and accumulate glycosaminoglycans (GAGs). Because of the sensitivity of the microtechniques utilized, it is possible to determine the specific radioactivity of the GAGs obtained after radioactive incorporation of [35S]SO4(2-) and [14C]glucosamine. Data obtained at various incubation times indicate that the distribution of the GAGs secreted by the cells into the medium is different from that retained by the cell layer. Hyaluronic acid was shown to be the most abundantly produced GAG, and much of this GAG does not appear to be incorporated into the extracellular matrix. Also, a high percentage of the total chondroitin sulfate B synthesized was secreted into the medium. On the other hand, most of the heparan sulfate and chondroitin sulfate C/A synthesized seems to be associated with the cell layer. These results are consistent with those found in whole rabbit aorta.

Animals↗

Soluble proteins in the human atherosclerotic plaque. With spectral reference to immunoglobulins, C3-complement component, alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin.

A number of soluble proteins contained in human aortic intimal tissue was extracted into buffered saline (pH 7.4) and identified and quantitated by immunoelectrophoresis and immunodiffusion. The proteins included IgA, IgG, IgM, B1C (C3), alpha 1-antitrypsin, alpha 2-macroglobulin, fibrinogen, albumin, LDL, HDL, alpha 1-acid glycoprotein, beta 2-glycoprotein, transferrin and ceruloplasmin. The concentration of soluble proteins was significantly higher in the atherosclerotic intima than in the normal intima. The diseased intima also contained a small amount of tissue-bound IgG, IgA and B1C which was extractable with citrate buffer at pH 3.2. The vascular band IgG, and B1C were shown by enzymatic and immunohistochemical studies to be closely associated with the collagenous tissue of the plaque. The Ig contained in the atherosclerotic plaque may be derived in part from the biosynthesis of Ig by the artery, since the incorporation of 14C-labeled leucine into IgG by the atheromatous plaque was demonstrable by radioimmunoelectrophoresis. In contrast to the diseased artery, the normal artery did not synthesize IgG and did not contain vascular bound IgG or complement. However, the normal artery was capable of fixing IgG and B1C eluted from the diseased artery. The present studies suggested that the IgG contained and synthesized by the plaque might represent an immune response to an endogenous or exogenous antigen closely associated with plaque collagen. IgG and B1C either alone or in the form of an immune complex also may play an important role in phagocytosis in the plaque and thereby influence the course of atherosclerosis. The proteolytic inhibitors, alpha 1-antitrypsin and alpha 2-macroglobulin, found in relatively high concentrations in the plaque, could enhance fibrosis of the lesion because of thier known inhibitory effects on collagenase and elastase.

Aorta↗

Effects of anticalcifying and antifibrobrotic drugs on pre-established atherosclerosis in the rabbit.

The effects of the anticalcifying drug, ethane-hydroxydiphosphonate (EHDP) and the inhibitors of collagen biosynthesis, colchicine, penicillamine and azetidine were studied in the rabbit with pre-established atherosclerosis. The drugs were administered with a cholesterol-free diet (regression diet) for 8 weeks following the induction of atherosclerosis by feeding a hypercholesterolemic diet containing 2% cholesterol and 8% peanut oil for 8 weeks. The extent and severity of aortic atherosclerosis, as revealed by the morphological and biochemical findings, increased significantly during the regression period. In rabbits treated with EHDP (5 mg/kg/day) the aorta had fewer gross lesions and contained significantly less cholesterol, collagen and elastin than did the aorta of the rabbits fed the regression diet alone. These changes were associated with a significant reduction in aortic calcium caused by EHDP. The aortic content of cholesterol, collagen and elastin in the EHDP-treated rabbits, although less than that of the rabbits fed the regression diet alone, was about the same as that of the rabbits fed a high cholesterol diet for 8 weeks. Both colchicine (0.2 mg/kg/day) and penicillamine (100 mg/kg/day) had a selective action on the induced plaques in that they suppressed the fibrous proliferation in the lesions without preventing lipid and calcium accumulation in the lesions. Neither colchicine nor penicillamine reduced the extent of aortic atherosclerosis as determined by gross examination of the vessel. Azetidine had no significant effect on the pre-established atherosclerotic lesions. The lipid, fibrous protein and calcium content of the aorta of the azetidine-treated animals was not significantly different from that of the untreated animals. The biochemical findings in the aorta were consistent with the microscopic changes.

Animals↗