Maturity of pericytes in cerebral neocapillaries induced by growth factors: fluorescence immuno‐histochemical analysis using confocal laser microscopy

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Jariyapongskul, Amporn^; | Nakano, Atushi | Yamaguchi, Saburo | Nageswari, Kolammal | Niimi, Hideyuki^;

Affiliations: Department of Vascular Physiology, National Cardiovascular Center Research Institute, Osaka 565‐8565, Japan | Department of Physiology, Faculty of Medicine, Srinakharinvirot University, Bangkok 10110, Thailand

Note: [] Corresponding author. E‐mail: niimi@ri.ncvc.go.jp.

Abstract: The maturity of pericytes in cerebral neocapillaries induced by two different growth factors: basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) and platelet‐derived growth factor (PDGF), was examined using an immunohistochemical staining technique. Cerebral angiogenesis was induced in mice by implanting a sandwich system of bFGF/PDGF gel and nylon‐mesh over the exposed cortex. On 28th day after incubation, a small volume of cerebral tissue with the nylon‐mesh was isolated and stained using tetramethyl rhodamine isothiocyanate (TRITC)‐labeled secondary antibody to the primary antibody against NG2 proteoglycan and fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC)‐labeled Griffonia simplicifolia (GS)‐lectin. Using a confocal laser microscopic system, we observed the cerebral neocapillaries on the upper surface of the nylon‐mesh and evaluated the maturity of pericytes stained with NG2 based on the fluorescence immunohistological images. The pericyte appeared rich in neocapillaries induced by PDGF. It was suggested that pericytes might play a key role in the regulation of blood flow in neovessels.

Keywords: Cerebral neocapillary, pericyte, confocal laser microscopy, blood flow regulation

Journal: Clinical Hemorheology and Microcirculation, vol. 29, no. 3-4, pp. 417-421, 2003