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Evolution of the microvascular distensibility during embryo growth. Example of the chick chorioallantoic membrane (CAM). The purpose of this work was to determine the evolution of the microvascular distensibility during the embryo growth. The microvascular distensibility was involved in capillary flow regulation, therefore in tissular irrigation and capillaries network growth during the angiogenesis. Its value fluctuated with the arteriolar tone. We worked on the CAM of the chick embryo, because of the vessel wall structure quickly changes during its development. We performed the measurements at three stages of development: at day 6, day 12 and day 16 of incubation. We carried out the measurements on in situ vessels visualized by microscopy, without vasoactive substances in order to preserve the vascular tone. Each vessel was canulated with a micropipette, occluded by a distal compression and inflated with a saline injection under controlled pressures. The distensibility was expressed as the relative increase in diameter. We determined that: 1) The distensibility was significantly higher in the vessels smaller than 58 μm diameter than in the larger vessels at day 6 and day 12 (the 58 μm value was the average diameter of the studied vessels). 2) The distensibility of the arteries, whatever their diameter (small or large) significantly decreased between day 12 and day 16 of incubation. 3) The distensibility of the smallest veins significantly decreases between day 12 and day 16, whereas the distensibility of the largest veins did not change during the same period. 4) The arteriolar distensibility was significantly smaller than the venular distensibility at day 12 and day 16.

This study presents the effects of red blood cell (RBC) hyperaggregation on the blood flow and pressure in the rat mesentery and cremaster network. We exclusively studied in situ non-vasodilated organs, in order to maintain the physiological regulation mechanisms. Dextran 500 was injected at different concentrations to increase RBC aggregation. The aggregation rate was measured on very small blood samples with an erythroaggregameter (SEFAM) which evaluated the disaggregating shear stress (tau D) needed to break the RBC aggregates. Microscopic observations and laser Doppler velocimetry were used to quantify the flow rate. The plasmatic dextran concentration (C) increase had different correlated effects: for example, tau D increased from 3 dynes cm-2 (for the control sample) to 14 dynes cm-2 (for C = 75 microM L-1); the flow rate was reduced threefold and very large aggregates were observed in the venules; the arteriolar pressure increased while venular pressure decreased. In order to differentiate the effects of RBC hyperaggregation from those of plasma hyperviscosity (due to dextran 500) on microcirculatory blood flow, we injected an RBC antiaggregating drug (troxerutine) (50 or 100 mg kg-1 i.v.). The consequences were a high reduction for (tau D) (from 14 dynes cm(-2)-9 dynes cm-2), smaller aggregates and higher blood flow in the venules. No effect of troxerutine was observed on plasma viscosity (plasma control: 1.9 cP with or without troxerutine; plasma with dextran at C = 75 microM L-1: 2.45 cP with or without troxerutine). The results strongly suggest that RBC aggregation has a significant influence on blood flow rate in the microcirculatory network.

Summary ATP entrapped into liposomes was administered intracarotidally to rats submitted to brain ischemics episodes by clamping of the carotid arteries and lowering of the systemic blood pressure. It was observed that when entrapped into liposomes, ATP greatly increased the number of ischemic episodes tolerated before brain electrical silence and death appeared. These results added to very similar previous data obtained by i.c.v. treatment excluding the prominent role of cardiovascular effects, could open new possibilities in brain antihypoxic protection. Here and now it cannot be stated if ATP provides direct energetic supply.

Liposomally entrapped adenosine triphosphate (ATP) was administered intracerebroventricularly and intracarotidally to rats subjected to brain ischaemic episodes by clamping of the carotid arteries and lowering of the systemic blood pressure. It was observed that, when entrapped in liposomes, ATP greatly increased the number of ischaemic episodes before brain electrical silence and death. The results open new perspectives in brain ATP supply, which will potentially be useful in human resuscitation from deep brain hypoergic states.

ATP was entrapped inside negatively charged liposomes composed of sulfatide, in order to improve its penetration into the brain and to reduce its degradation into other tissues. These liposomes were prepared according to an original method allowing a satisfying stability of the formulation. Liposomally entrapped ATP were administered intracerebroventricularly to rats submitted to brain ischemic episodes by both carotid arteries clamping and systemic blood pressure lowering (during 3 minutes every 15 minutes). Such treatment importantly increases the number of ischemic episodes before brain silence appeared. So, this paper allows new perspectives in the administration of drugs into the brain. Several authors (1,2) have already proposed administration of ATP for the treatment of severe hypoergic syndromes. However, it is generally accepted that strongly charged anions cannot enter into the cells through the plasma membrane (2,3). For this reason, improvement in the treatment of hemorhagic shock after systemic administration of ATP was mostly attributed to peripheral effects, taking place mainly in the liver and the kidneys(1). However, such results were not confirmed by Schloerb et al. (4) who showed that ATP-MgCl2 i.v. neither increased survival rate, nor enhanced tissue levels of ATP in shocked animals. Furthermore, they showed that the administered ATP was rapidly and extensively degraded in various tissue. These results could be explained by the fact that the central nervous system and especially the neo-cortex is characterized by a very tight blood brain barrier, suggesting that ATP does not enter it. On the other hand, liposomes were proposed for introduction of hydrophilic molecules (i.e. enzymes, cytostatics) into the brain (5,6). Furthermore, liposomes composed of sulfatide, in addition to phospholipids, were found to be the optimal system for brain targeting (7). Owing to these considerations, we looked at the possibility of entrapping ATP inside negatively charged liposomes composed of sulfatide. This paper describes preparation and characterization of liposomes loaded with ATP, as well as their efficiency in experimental brain ischemia in the rat.