%0 Journal Article
%T Identification and Characterization of Novel Perivascular Adventitial Cells in the Whole Mount Mesenteric Branch Artery Using Immunofluorescent Staining and Scanning Confocal Microscopy Imaging
%A Chandra Somasundaram
%A Rahul K. Nath
%A Richard D. Bukoski
%A Debra I. Diz
%J International Journal of Cell Biology
%D 2012
%I Hindawi Publishing Corporation
%R 10.1155/2012/172746
%X A novel perivascular adventitial cell termed, adventitial neuronal somata (ANNIES) expressing the neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and the vasodilator neuropeptide, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), exists in the adult rat mesenteric branch artery (MBA) in situ. In addition, we have previously shown that ANNIES coexpress CGRP and NCAM. We now show that ANNIES express the neurite growth marker, growth associated protein-43(Gap-43), palladin, and the calcium sensing receptor (CaSR), that senses changes in extracellular Ca(2+) and participates in vasodilator mechanisms. Thus, a previously characterized vasodilator, calcium sensing autocrine/paracrine system, exists in the perivascular adventitia associated with neural-vascular interface. Images of the whole mount MBA segments were analyzed under scanning confocal microscopy. Confocal analysis showed that the Gap-43, CaSR, and palladin were present in ANNIES about 37 ¡À 4%, 94 ¡À 6%, and 80 ¡À 10% respectively, comparable to CGRP (100%). Immunoblots from MBA confirmed the presence of Gap-43 (48£¿kD), NCAM (120 and 140£¿kD), and palladin (90¨C92 and 140 kD). In summary, CGRP, and NCAM-containing neural cells in the perivascular adventitia also express palladin and CaSR, and coexpress Gap-43 which may participate in response to stress/injury and vasodilator mechanisms as part of a perivascular sensory neural network. 1. Introduction Vascular growth and remodeling occur in association with certain physiological and pathological conditions. In addition, vascular regeneration and repair are essential for the survival of blood vessels. These processes involve numerous cell types. There are still uncharacterized and less characterized cell types in vascular adventitia, which include vascular stem/progenitor cells [1¨C10] and adventitial neuronal somata (ANNIES) [11]. The vascular adventitia is a complicated tissue [12], which is found to be the most active layer in terms of cell turnover [13]. In addition, within the vascular adventitia resides amyelinated nerves known as ¡°nerva vasorum¡± [14]. Using fluorescence confocal microscopy (FCM) to visualize vascular wall 3D organization of different cellular and extracellular elements of the intact artery with minimal 3D distortion [11, 13], we recently demonstrated ANNIES coexpressing neural cell adhesion molecule (NCAM) and calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) in the adult rat mesenteric branch artery (MBA). These cells can be enzymatically dispersed and maintained in culture [11]. The present study was designed to further characterize ANNIES in adult rat MBA as
%U http://www.hindawi.com/journals/ijcb/2012/172746/