Summary
Smooth muscle cells were enzymatically isolated from the tunica media of the aorta of 5-day-old rats. Following in vitro exposure to colloidal thorium dioxide particles the cells displayed numerous lysosomes filled with these particles. Intramuscular injection of isolated cells into the tongues of young rats of the same strain, resulted in the formation by both freshly isolated and thorium dioxide-labeled cells of a characteristic tissue similar to that found in the intact aortic wall. Thus, the transplants consisted of typical smooth muscle cells surrounded by an extracellular matrix consisting of a microfibrillar network, patches and fibers of elastin, collagen fibrils and small polygonal granules believed to represent proteoglycans. This system can be used for experimental studies on the production of extracellular matrix components and on other functions of arterial smooth muscle cells growing outside the vascular wall.
The technical assistance of Ms. Karin Blomgren and the secretarial assistance of Ms. Inger Åhrén are gratefully acknowledged
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
Albert, E., Fleischer, E.: A new electron dense stain for elastic tissue. J. Histochem. Cytochem. 18, 697–718 (1970)
Brissie, R.M., Spicer, S.S., Thompson, N.T.: The variable fine structure of elastin visualized with Verhoeff s iron hematoxylin. Anat. Rec. 181, 83–94 (1975)
Brunk, U.: Distribution and shifts of ingested marker particles in residual bodies and other lysosomes. Exp. Cell Res. 79, 15–27 (1973)
Daoud, A.S., Fritz, K.E., Singh, J., Augustyn, J.M., Jarmolych, J.: Production of mucopolysaccharides, collagen and elastic tissue by aortic medial explants. Adv. exp. Med. Biol. 43, 281–298 (1974)
Gerrity, R.G., Adams, E.P., Cliff, W.J.: The aortic tunica media of the developing rat. II. Incorporation by medial cells of 3H-proline into collagen and elastin: Autoradiographic and chemical studies. Lab. Invest. 32, 601–609 (1975)
Gerrity, R.G., Cliff, W.J.: The aortic tunica media of the developing rat. I. Quantitative stereologic and biochemical analysis. Lab. Invest. 32, 585–600 (1975)
Glagov, S., Ts'ao, C.: Restitution of aortic wall after sustained necrotizing transmural ligation injury. Amer. J. Path. 79, 7–30 (1975)
Goldfischer, S., Schiller, B., Wolinsky, H.: Lipid accumulation in smooth muscle cell lysosomes in primate atherosclerosis. Amer. J. Path. 78, 497–504 (1975)
Greenlee, T.K. Jr., Ross, R., Hartman, J.L.: The fine structure of elastic fibers. J. Cell Biol. 30, 59–71 (1966)
Ham, R.G.: Clonal growth of mammalian cells in a chemically defined synthetic medium. Proc. nat. Acad. Sci. (Wash.) 53, 288–293 (1965)
Ham, R.G., Sattler, G.L.: Clonal growth of differentiated rabbit cartilage cells. J. Cell Physiol. 72, 109–114 (1968)
Hinek, A., Rosnowski, A.: Comparison of morphology of isolated cells obtained from aortas of normal and cholesterol-fed rabbits. Paroi Arterial Arterial Wall 3, 17–30 (1975)
Kao, K.Y.T., Hilker, D.M., McGavack, T.H.: Connective tissue. V. Comparison of synthesis and turnover of collagen and elastin in tissues of rat of several ages. Proc. Soc. exp. Biol. (N.Y.) 106, 335–338 (1961)
Karrer, H.E.: An electron microscope study of the aorta in young and in aging mice. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 5, 1–27 (1961)
Kawiak, J., Moskalewski, S., Hinek, A.: Reconstruction of the elastic cartilage by isolated chondrocytes in autogenic transplants. Acta anat. (Basel) 76, 530–544 (1970)
Layman, D.L., Titus, J.L.: Synthesis of type I collagen by human smooth muscle cells in vitro. Lab. Invest. 33, 103–107 (1975)
Locke, M., Huie, P.: Staining of the elastic fibers in insect connective tissue after tannic acid-glutaraldehyde fixation. Tissue and Cell 7, 211–216 (1975)
Moskalewski, S., Kawiak, J.: Cartilage formation after homotransplantation of isolated chondrocytes. Transplantation 3, 737–747 (1965)
Moss, N.S., Benditt, E.P.: Human atherosclerotic plaque cells and leiomyoma cells. Amer. J. Path. 78, 175–190 (1975)
Murray, M., Schrodt, R.G., Berg, H.F.: Role of smooth muscle cells in healing of injured arteries. Arch. Path. 82, 138–147 (1966)
Parker, F., Ödland, G.F.: A correlative histochemical, biochemical and electron microscopic study of experimental atherosclerosis in the rabbit aorta with special reference to the myo-intimal cell. Amer. J. Path. 48, 197–239 (1966)
Paule, W.J.: Electron microscopy of the newborn rat aorta. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 8, 219–235 (1963)
Pease, D.C., Molinari, S.: Electron microscopy of muscular arteries; pial vessels of the cat and monkey. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 3, 447–468 (1960)
Peters, T.J., de Duve, C.: Lysosomes of the arterial wall. II. Subcellular fractionation of aortic cells from rabbits with experimental atheroma. Exp. molec. Path. 20, 228–256 (1974)
Pollak, O.J.: Monographs on artherosclerosis. Vol I Tissue culture. New York: S. Karger 1969
Reynolds, E.S.: The use of lead citrate at high pH as an electron-opaque stain in electron microscopy. J. Cell Biol. 17, 208–212 (1963)
Ross, R.: The smooth muscle cell. II. Growth of smooth muscle in culture and formation of elastic fibers. J. Cell Biol. 50, 172–186 (1971)
Ross, R.: Connective tissue cells, cell proliferation and synthesis of extracellular — matrix a review. Phil. Trans. B 271, 247–259 (1975)
Ross, R., Bornstein, P.: The elastic fiber. I. The separation and partial characterization of its macromolecular components. J. Cell Biol. 40, 366–381 (1969)
Ross, R., Bornstein, P.: Studies of the components of the elastic fiber. In: Chemistry and molecular biology of the intercellular matrix, Vol. 1 (E.A. Balazs, ed.), pp. 641–655. London-New York: Academic Press 1970
Ross, R., Glomset, J.A.: Atherosclerosis and the arterial smooth muscle cell. Science 180, 1332–1339 (1973)
Ross, R., Klebanoff, S.J.: The smooth muscle cell. I. In vivo synthesis of connective tissue proteins. J. Cell Biol. 50, 159–171 (1971)
Shio, H., Farquhar, M.G., de Duve, C.: Lysosomes of the arterial wall. IV. Cytochemical localization of acid phosphatase and catalase in smooth muscle cells and foam cells from rabbit atheromatous aorta. Amer. J. Path. 76, 1–16 (1974)
Sjöstrand, F.S.: Electron microscopy of cells and tissues, Vol. 1. Instrumentation and techniques. p. 145. New York-London: Academic Press 1967
Somlyo, A.P., Somlyo, A.V.: Vascular smooth muscle. I. Normal structure, pathology, biochemistry, and biophysics. Pharmacol. Rev. 20, 197–272 (1968)
Spurr, A.R.: A low-viscosity epoxy resin embedding medium for electron microscopy. J. Ultrastruct. Res. 26, 31–43 (1969)
Steinberg, M.S.: “ECM” — its nature, origin and function in cell aggregation. Exp. Cell Res. 30. 257–279 (1963)
Thyberg, J., Moskalewski, S., Friberg, U.: Electron microscopic studies on the uptake of colloidal thorium dioxide particles by isolated fetal guinea-pig chondrocytes and the distribution of labeled lysosomes in cartilage formed by transplanted chondrocytes. Cell Tiss. Res. 156, 317–344 (1975)
Wight, T.N., Ross, R.: Proteoglycans in primate arteries. I. Ultrastructural localization and distribution in the intima. J. Cell Biol. 67, 660–674 (1975a)
Wight, T.N., Ross, R.: Proteoglycans in primate arteries. II. Synthesis and secretion of glycosaminoglycans by arterial smooth muscle cells in culture. J. Cell Biol. 67, 675–686 (1975b)
Wissler, R.W.: The arterial medial cell, smooth muscle or multifunctional mesenchyme? J. Atheroscler. Res. 8, 201–213 (1968)
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Additional information
Financial support was obtained from the Swedish Medical Research Council (proj. no. 12X-03355), the King Gustaf V 80th Birthday Fund, the M. Bergvall Foundation, the A.O. Swärd Foundation, and from the Funds of the Karolinska Institutet
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Hinek, A., Thyberg, J. & Friberg, U. Heterotopic allotransplantation of isolated aortic cells. Cell Tissue Res. 172, 59–79 (1976). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226049
Accepted:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00226049