Activity in vitro of resveratrol on granulocyte and monocyte adhesion to endothelium.

BACKGROUND: Resveratrol is a phytoalexin present in red wine. It has been shown to protect LDL from peroxidative degradation. OBJECTIVE: In consideration of the low plasma concentration of orally adsorbed resveratrol (which is insufficient for antioxidant protection of LDL), we studied another effect of the compound. DESIGN: Because resveratrol is a tyrosine kinase inhibitor like other members of the tyrphostin family, we hypothesized that it has the ability to modify intracellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) expression by stimulated endothelial cells. We studied the ability of resveratrol to inhibit such adhesion molecule expression and to block the adhesion of monocytes and granulocytes to endothelial cells. RESULTS: We showed that resveratrol, at concentrations as low as 1 micromol/L and 100 nmol/L, significantly inhibited ICAM-1 and VCAM-1 expression by tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha)-stimulated human umbilical vein endothelial cells and lipopolysaccharide-stimulated human saphenous vein endothelial cells (HSVEC), respectively. In addition, we showed that resveratrol induced a significant inhibition in the adhesion of U937 monocytoid cells to lipopolysaccharide-stimulated HSVEC. Such inhibition was comparable with that obtained when anti-VCAM-1 monoclonal antibody was used instead of resveratrol. Resveratrol also significantly inhibited the adhesion of neutrophils to TNF-alpha-stimulated NIH/3T3 ICAM-1-transfected cells, whereas neutrophils activated by formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine did not significantly modify adhesion to NIH/3T3 ICAM-1-transfected cells. CONCLUSIONS: Our results indicate activity of resveratrol on endothelial cells and a new interpretation of an effect independent of its antioxidant function.

Human neonatal ovary: proposal of a three-dimensional model.

A model of human neonatal ovary is presented, derived from morphometric, evaluations carried out on left ovaries removed from five full-term neonates with a 46, XX karyotype, free from malformations of the genital apparatus. According to this model, the gonad can be represented by a triaxial ellipsoid with a central medullary core surrounded by a cortical stratum of constant thickness. The germinal population, consisting of follicles and primitive cortical tissue, occupies the cortex, intermingled with the interstitium or stroma. In the cortex it is then possible to describe an outer layer formed by primitive cortical tissue, and an inner portion occupied by follicles. The primary and secondary follicles fill the portion near the medulla and the primordial ones are contained in the middle and outer zones. Since the variability observed among ovaries is slight, we can propose a mean model of neonatal ovary in which the spatial relationships among the different components, the total number of follicles and their position in the cortex can be calculated.

Evaluation of calcitonin-gene related peptide on haemodynamics of isolated perfused rat kidney.

Outside the central nervous system, calcitonin-gene-related peptide (CGRP) plays an important role in the control of regional blood flow. The present authors studied the renal haemodynamic effects of CGRP in the model of isolated perfused rat kidney (IPRK). This experimental model avoids the complex feed-back mechanisms activated by any modification of renal perfusion pressure. It was found that the infusion of CGRP in the IPRK induced a marked decrease of perfusion pressure; this vasoactive effect is well measured by the glomerular morphometric analysis that shows a striking increase in the glomerular diameter and volume.