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Elastogenesis in rat arterial grafts: elastin deposits on microfibrillar and non-microfibrillar structures

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Summary

Endothelial lesions and the subsequent migration of smooth muscle cells in the intima layer are frequently observed after vascular grafting. The expression of secretory phenotype by these cells leads to the accumulation of connective tissue and thereby provides a model for the study of elastin depositionin vivo. Rats bearing aortic grafts of auto-, iso- or homologous origin were sacrificed between 3 and 18 months after implantation. Samples were treated for routine ultrastructural observations and for post-embedding by immunoelectron microscopy using anti-human elastin and protein A-gold.

Grafts showed a large intimal thickening composed of several layers of smooth muscle cells and an abundant extracellular matrix. Mature elastic fibres (amorphous elastin associated with peripheral microfibrils) were always encountered in hyperplasia, suggesting that elastin deposition may follow the classical pathway involving microfibrils, which serve as a framework for polymerization of tropoelastin molecule into the amorphous component. However, an unusual localization of elastin aggregates was observed within basement membrane-like material surrounding smooth muscle cells. When sections were stained with methanolic uranyl acetate, these areas showed small electron-dense bodies, which were also labelled with anti-elastin antibody. These structures were apparently devoid of surrounding microfibrils. These results indicate that non-microfibrillar basement membrane material might be involved in the early events of elastin deposition.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratoire d'Histologie Expérimentale, UA.CNRS 244, Université Claude Bernard, 43 Bd du 11 novembre 1918, 69622, Villeurbanne Cédex

    Claire Lethias & Robert Garrone

  2. INSERM U 37, 18 av. Doyen Lépine, 69675, Bron Cédex

    Elza Chignier & Rosy Eloy

  3. Centre de Radioanalyse, Institut Pasteur, 13 rue Domer, 69007, Lyon, France

    Daniel J. Hartmann

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  1. Claire Lethias
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  2. Elza Chignier
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  3. Robert Garrone
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  4. Daniel J. Hartmann
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  5. Rosy Eloy
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Lethias, C., Chignier, E., Garrone, R. et al. Elastogenesis in rat arterial grafts: elastin deposits on microfibrillar and non-microfibrillar structures. Histochem J 20, 715–721 (1988). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01002752

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF01002752

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