Acta Anatomica Sinica ›› 2017, Vol. 48 ›› Issue (5): 565-570.doi: 10.16098/j.issn.0529-1356.2017.05.012

• Histology,Embryology and Developmental Biology • Previous Articles     Next Articles

Changes of the ultrastructures of pulmonary vascular endothelial cells and the content of nitric oxide in serum after acute pulmonary embolism in rabbits

JIN Hui-yan1 LI Shu-qing2* RUAN Li-bo3   

  1. 1. Department of Functional Experiment, School of Basic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China; 2. Department of Pathophysiology and Pathology, School of Basic Medicine, Kunming Medical University, Kunming 650500, China;3. Department of Internal Orthopedic Medicine, the First People’s Hospital of Yunnan Province, Kunming 650032, China
  • Received:2016-11-18 Revised:2017-02-21 Online:2017-10-06 Published:2017-10-06
  • Contact: LI Shu-qing E-mail:shuqing28@hotmail.com

Abstract:

[Objective To study the ultrastructures of pulmonary vascular endothelial cells (PVECs) and the content of nitric oxide (NO) in serum after acute pulmonary embolism (APE) in rabbits. Methods A total of 19 rabbits were randomly divided into four groups: sham (n=3), 2 hours after APE (n=3), 4 hours after APE (n=3) and 8 hours of APE (n=10). The rabbit model of APE was established by injecting autologous blood clots. Pathological histology changes of the lung were observed under an optical microscope and the ultrastructural changes of PVECs were examined by transmission electron microscopy at the 2ed hour, the 4th hour and the 8th hour after APE. In addition, the content of NO in serum at pre-embolism, 2 hours, 4 hours and 8 hours after APE was determined by nitrate reductasemethod . Results In the embolism group, the HE staining showed that there were thrombi within the pulmonary arteries. The pulmonary congestion was found in pulmonary arteries and massive inflammatory cells were infiltrated into the arteries. The transmission electron microscope showed PVECs edema, rupture and mitochondrion swell and endoplasmic reticulum emptying. With the longer duration of embolism, PVECs necrosis and exfoliation were observed. The organelles were dissolved. Compared with the pre-embolization, the content of NO significantly decreased at 2 hours, 4 hours and 8 hours after APE (P<0.05). Conclusion APE leads to the ultrastructural changes of PVECs and the content of NO in serum decrease in rabbits. The content of NO in serum is in relation to the ultrastructural changes of PVEC.

Key words: Pulmonary embolism, Pulmonary vascular endothelial cell, Nitric oxide, Nitrate reductase method, Rabbit