Effect of High Glucose Concentration on Collagen Synthesis and Cholesterol Level in the Phenotypic Modulation of Aortic Cultured Smooth Muscle Cells of Sand Rat (Psammomys obesus)

摘要

To simulate diabetic conditions, the effects of high glucoseconcentration on collagen synthesis and cholesterollevel in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells ofPsammomyswere investigated. For collagen biosynthesis, smooth musclecells (SMCs) were incubated in synthetic proliferativephase and in postconfluent phase withH3-proline. Cellularcholesterol was determined by enzymatic method. Underhigh glucose concentration, the results showed morphologicalmodifications characterized by morphometric cellular,nuclear, and nucleolar changes. In biochemical studies, theauthors observed an increase of free and esterified cellularcholesterol as well as of total proteins, collagen biosynthesis,andα1 (I+III) andα2 (I) chains of collagen containedin the SMCs and in the extracellular matrix. These resultsshowed the sensitivity ofPsammomysaortic SMCs to highglucose concentration and would constitute an interestingcellular model to study atherosclerosis pathogeny in experimentaldiabetes.