Summary
Light microscopic and ultrastructural changes in developing coronary collateral vessels were investigated after treatment with hydrocortisone (20 mg/kg/day orally) in the dog. The expected inflammatory reaction in the early stage of development (3 weeks) was absent, signs of injury to the vascular wall were lacking. At 3 and 8 weeks proliferation of rough and smooth endoplasmic reticulum and of the Golgi field was prominent indicating changes in the metabolism of the cells. The amount of extracellular MPS, collagen and new elastic material was decreased. Intimal hyperplasia occurred at the same rate in the treated as in the untreated animals. At 3 months the vascular architecture was restored, cellular hyperactivity had decreased.
It is concluded from these results that:
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1.
Only collaterals in the acute stage of growth are influenced by treatment with hydrocortisone.
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2.
When collateral growth had come to a standstill, an influence of hydrocortisone was no longer demonstrable.
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3.
Normal non-growing coronary arteries in normal hearts and in those with coronary occlusion are not influenced by hydrocortisone.
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Schaper, J., Borgers, M., Xhonneux, R. et al. Cortisone influences developing collaterals. Virchows Arch. Abt. A Path. Anat. 361, 263–282 (1973). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00548700
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00548700