Abstract
The redistribution of purinergic P2X receptor subunits (P2X1 to P2X7) within the rabbit aorta wall three weeks after endothelial balloon injury/cholesterol feeding was examined. P2X1 receptor cluster density was elevated in the media following balloon injury/cholesterol feeding by about 30% and these clusters appeared on smooth muscle cells throughout the greatly expanded neointima but they did not change significantly on the endothelial cells following balloon injury. P2X4 clusters were found in high density throughout the media and in very high density in the enlarged neointima following balloon injury, particularly on the endothelial cells where the density increased about 10-fold after balloon injury. P2X5 clusters were found in high density in the media of normal aorta but with little change following balloon injury. P2X3, P2X6 and P2X7 cluster density was low in normal aorta and remained unchanged following balloon injury. All receptor subunits were found on endothelial cells. It is suggested that the release of ATP from damaged endothelial cells and from smooth muscle cells sufficient to activate P2X4 receptors may contribute to neointimal proliferation.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 623-631 |
Number of pages | 9 |
Journal | Journal of Neurocytology |
Volume | 29 |
Issue number | 9 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Sep 2000 |
Externally published | Yes |