Hyaluronic acid in rabbit pericardial fluid and its production by pericardium.

High-Mr (greater than 2 X 10(6)) hyaluronic acid (about 82 micrograms/ml) was found for the first time in rabbit pericardial fluid. Biosynthetic experiments with minced pericardium from rabbit showed that the high-Mr hyaluronic acid in the pericardial fluid was actively synthesized by the pericardium from [3H]glucosamine.

Clinical significance of histopathologic patterns of cardiac amyloidosis.

Cardiac amyloidosis may be asymptomatic or an important cause of progressive heart failure and refractory arrhythmia. To identify the morphologic markers of clinically significant cardiac amyloidosis, we analyzed the hearts of 47 patients with autopsy-proven cardiac amyloidosis (21 with primary amyloidosis [AL] and 26 with senile cardiac amyloidosis [SCA]) histologically for the extent and pattern of amyloid deposits. The extent of amyloid deposition was graded 1 through 4, corresponding with less than 10%, 10 to 25%, 26 to 50%, and more than 50% histologic involvement of the myocardium, respectively. The pattern of deposits was classified as nodular, perifiber, or mixed type, and the presence or absence of vascular involvement was determined. The hearts with primary amyloidosis showed predominantly high-grade deposits (76% grades 3 and 4), a perifiber (65%) or mixed (30%) pattern of deposits, and frequent (90%) vascular involvement. The hearts with senile cardiac amyloidosis tended to have low-grade deposits (62% grades 1 and 2), a nodular pattern (92%) of deposits, and infrequent (4%) vascular involvement. Clinically significant cardiac amyloidosis was associated with grade 2 or greater amyloid deposits in the heart and with involvement of intramyocardial arterioles.

Isolation and characterization of calcitonin from pericardium and esophagus of eel.

Calcitonin was extracted from the pericardium and esophagus of eel in quantities sufficient to permit purification and chemical characterization. Homogeneous calcitonin could be isolated by a six-step fractionation starting from acetone powder of the organs. The fractionation procedure consisted of acid extraction, gel filtration on Sephadex G-75, chromatography on SP-Sephadex C-25, gel filtration on the Sephadex G-50, chromatography on carboxymethylcellulose, and gel filtration on Sephadex G-50. Fractionation of the hormone was monitored by assay of its biological activity and from its behaviour on thin layer chromatography and polyacrylamide gel disc electrophoresis. The hormone contained 32 amino acid residues, like calcitonins from other species of animals, but its amino acid composition was different from those of previously characterized hormones. Eel calcitonin possessed almost the same, or higher, biological activity as the salmon or chicken hormone, which show the highest specific activity among calcitonins so far isolated.

Identification and immunocytochemical localization of proctolin in pericardial organs of the shore crab, Carcinus maenas.

The occurrence of proctolin (Arg-Tyr-Leu-Pro-Thr) in crab neurohemal pericardial organs (POs) has been demonstrated by isolation of the pentapeptide by HPLC and manual microsequencing according to the DABITC-PITC double coupling technique. From one pair of POs approximately 5.4 pmol were obtained (= 45 pmol/mg protein). Immunocytochemically, an extensive system of positive structures was found in both whole mount preparations and semithin sections, consisting of numerous varicose fibres of varying diameter and many knoblike neurosecretory terminals abutting upon the epineurium of the PO trunks. The relatively high concentration in the POs as well as the pattern of proctolin-positive fibres and terminals clearly suggest a neurohormonal role of the pentapeptide in decapod crustaceans.

Primary Chylopericardium: combined lymphangiographic and CT diagnosis.

A case of primary chylopericardium is reported, and the usefulness of combined computed tomography and lymphangiography diagnosis of lymphatic leakage is demonstrated.

Partial characterization of a low molecular weight proteoglycan isolated from bovine parietal pericardium.

Knowledge of the nature of pericardial connective tissue components is incomplete. To gain a better understanding of the composition of this tissue, bovine parietal pericardium was extracted with 4 M guanidine hydrochloride yielding a proteoglycan-containing protein mixture. This was fractionated by a three-step chromatographic procedure with the resultant purification of a 75-110 Kd proteoglycan. The purified proteoglycan was susceptible to chondroitinase ABC digestion but resistant to chondroitinase AC and nitrous acid degradation suggesting the presence of dermatan sulfate glycosaminoglycan(s). This is the first reported isolation of a proteoglycan from parietal pericardium.

Phospholipids identified on the pericardium and their ability to impart boundary lubrication.

Phospholipids have been identified by thin-layer chromatography in appreciable quantities in pericardial fluid taken from 12 dogs and found to include sphingomyelin and phosphatidylcholines, -ethanolamines, -inositols and -serines--the cholines predominating. The extracts, the synthetic surfactants and a mixture of synthetics simulating the extracts were all found to be good lubricants when tested by a standard method. The phosphatidylcholines were capable of reducing friction between two otherwise hydrophilic surfaces by as much as 100- to 200-fold when deposited as an oriented monolayer. A goniometer was used to measure an average contact angle of 33 degrees for a drop of saline placed upon the internal wall of the pericardium, indicating an appreciably hydrophobic surface anticipated if surfactant were directly adsorbed. The results are consistent with the classical theory of "boundary" lubrication (17) as modified (21) to reflect the almost ideal molecular structure of the identified surfactants for adsorption, film cohesion and interaction of fatty-acid chains during sliding. This model is proposed as an alternative to hydrodynamic lubrication in the pericardium and one compatible with several practical aspects such as pericardial rub and the maintenance of normal heart action after pericardectomy.

Malignant spindle cell tumor of the pericardium. Evidence of sarcomatous mesothelioma with aberrant antigen expression.

A case of malignant spindle cell tumor occurring in the pericardium is presented. The tumor arose from the pericardium of a 51-year-old Japanese woman with no history of exposure to asbestos. The tumor extended into the pericardial and left pleural cavities. The primary and metastatic tumors consisted of fusiform cells with frequent mitoses. Ultrastructurally, the tumor cells possessed a discontinuous external lamina, cytoplasmic processes, microfilaments and desmosomal intercellular junctions. Immunohistochemical examination showed that most tumor cells were positive for Leu 7, and several for S-100 and glial fibrillary acidic protein. Unexpectedly, most of the tumor cells also expressed keratin. These findings favor a diagnosis of sarcomatous mesothelioma with aberrant antigenic expression or heterogeneous differentiation of neoplastic cells.

[Cefotaxim for peri-operative short-term prophylaxis of infection in cardiac surgery. Concentrations in myocardial, pericardial, fat and skeletal muscle tissues]. / Cefotaxim zur perioperativen Kurzzeitprophylaxe bei herzchirurgischen Eingriffen. Konzentrationen im Herzmuskel-, Perikard-, Fett- und Skelettmuskel-Gewebe.

Cefotaxim was administered intravenously in a dose of 50 mg/kg body-weight before and immediately after cardiac surgery. The drug's concentrations were measured in serum, myocardium, peri-operative fat, pericardium and skeletal muscle. The highest concentration was found 15 minutes after injection: 32 micrograms/g in pericardium, 22 micrograms/g in myocardium, 17.9 micrograms/g in fat and 12.3 micrograms/g in skeletal muscle. After 2 hours the average concentration in pericardium was 10.7, in myocardium 3.8, in fat 5.4 and in skeletal muscle 2.4 micrograms/g. The corresponding mean serum levels were 237.4 and 33.3 micrograms/ml, respectively. The tissue concentrations were thus high enough to be effective against infections caused by cefotaxim-sensitive organisms. There was primary wound healing in all 16 patients. No other infections, such as pneumonia or urinary infections, occurred.

Tissue distribution of atrial natriuretic factor in normal and pathologic human hearts.

The tissue distribution and possible neuroendocrine nature of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) were studied, using the avidin-biotin-peroxidase technique and antibodies to ANF, chromogranin (Ch), and neuron-specific enolase (NSE). Tissues examined included: Group 1, formalin-fixed and fresh frozen atrial tissue from adjacent areas of the hearts from two heart-lung-transplant patients; Group 2, the entire atria and sampling of other areas from formalin-fixed hearts of five gunshot wound or automobile accident victims; and Group 3, formalin-fixed right auricular tissue from 19 open-heart-surgery patients. In each case of Group 3, the ANF score, expressed as the product of the percentage of stained areas by the staining intensity, was correlated with age, weight, height, blood pressure, ejection fraction, and degree of coronary arterial stenosis. It was found that: (a) ANF was limited to atrial myocytes; the staining was significantly stronger in the right atrium, diffuse and most intense in auricles and pectinate muscles, diffuse and strong in subendocardium, focal and weak in other areas; (b) although ANF has been reported to be a peptide hormone stored in dense-core granules, it does not seem to belong to the diffuse neuroendocrine system because Ch and NSE were consistently absent in cardiac myocytes; and (c) although the limited numbers of evaluable clinical parameters do not significantly correlate with ANF scores, a change in the pattern and intensity of ANF staining was noted in some cases of Group 3.

CT of the pericardial recesses.

Within the pericardial cavity there are several recesses where fluid can collect in close contiguity to the major bronchi and lymph nodes. These include the transverse sinus, behind the ascending aorta and pulmonary trunk; the oblique sinus, behind the left atrium; and the left pulmonic recess, between the left pulmonary artery and the left superior pulmonary vein. There are also smaller pericardial recesses between the superior and inferior pulmonary veins, posterolateral to the superior vena cava, and between the inferior vena cava and coronary sinus. An understanding of sectional anatomy is valuable for differentiation of fluid within these recesses from mediastinal masses or enlarged lymph nodes on computed tomographic scans.

Bovine pericardial proteoglycan: biochemical, immunochemical and ultrastructural studies.

The major proteoglycan in bovine parietal pericardium is a low molecular weight dermatan-sulfate proteoglycan. It possesses structural and immunologic characteristics similar to those of the small proteoglycan found in tendon. We demonstrate that digestion of purified pericardial proteoglycan with low levels of V8 protease results in the liberation of the glycosaminoglycan chain and of a 40 kDa resistant fragment. A similar 40 kDa fragment can be obtained by V8 protease digestion of the proteoglycan deglycosylated by chondroitinase ABC. Although the protein core size of the pericardial proteoglycan is similar to that of tendon PG II, the size of the glycosaminoglycan chain liberated from the former is smaller. The pericardial proteoglycan and its V8 protease products reacted with an anti-PG II antiserum by immunoblotting. The anti-PG-II antibody localized in the pericardial tissue by the immunoperoxidase technique. The presence of intrachain disulfide bonds in the structure of pericardial proteoglycan core protein and V8 resistant fragment was demonstrated by their decreased electrophoretic mobility after disulfide reduction. Digestion of pericardial proteoglycan with Cathepsin C resulted in a rapid liberation of the glycosaminoglycan chain from the core protein, indicating that its attachment site was very close to the amino terminus. Ultrastructural examination of pericardial tissue utilizing Cuprolinic Blue revealed a periodic association of the proteoglycan with the d/e band on the collagen fibrils. Electron microscopic immunohistochemical studies confirmed the perifibrillar association of pericardial proteoglycan. The present data demonstrate that, although the pericardial proteoglycan possesses some unique structural features, it shares structural and immunological characteristics to place it in the category of the small PG II family.

Adipose tissue in the mammalian heart and pericardium: structure, foetal development and biochemical properties.

1. The occurrence and relative abundance of adipose tissue around the heart and in the pericardium of wild and domesticated mammals are reviewed and some new data reported. 2. For macaque monkeys and a wide range of other adult mammals, the mean volume of epicardial adipocytes is constant at about half the average of that of other depots, although the relative mass of this depot is unrelated to the abundance of adipose tissue in the rest of the body. 3. In young adult guinea-pigs, the maximum rate of fatty acid synthesis is significantly higher in epicardial adipose tissue than that in the pericardial, perirenal and popliteal depots. 4. The rate of fatty acid release by epicardial adipose tissue is approximately twice that of the pericardial and perirenal depots. 5. The protein contents of guinea-pig epicardial and pericardial adipose tissue are similar, and are significantly higher than those of the perirenal and popliteal adipose tissue and there are no site-specific differences in the abundance of mitochondria. 6. In adult Macaca monkeys, the capacity of the epicardial adipose tissue for glucose utilization is about half that of the intra-abdominal depots. 7. The principal difference between epicardial adipose tissue and that elsewhere in the body is its greater capacity for fatty acid release. 8. It is suggested that cardiac adipose tissue may act as a local energy supply for adjacent myocardium and/or as a buffer against toxic levels of free fatty acids.

Toxic effects of aldehydes released from fixed pericardium on bovine aortic endothelial cells.

Glutaraldehyde (GA) and formaldehyde (FA) were shown to be released from 1 cm2 fixed pericard patches into 2-mL storage solutions after three 2-min washings in concentrations of about 1 mg/L. The cytotoxicity of these aldehyde concentrations on bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs) was evaluated in vitro, by proliferation capacity, cellular ATP content, PGI2 release and cyclic AMP synthesis. Continuous incubation of BAECs with GA greater than 0.1 mg/L and FA greater than 0.5 mg/L resulted in a significantly inhibited proliferation and in an increase of the intracellular Ca2+ triggered parameters, PGI2 and cyclic AMP, up to three fold. This strongly suggests an aldehyde-induced inhibition of the plasma-membrane bound Ca2+-ATPase, an enzyme which normally maintains low intracellular Ca2+-level. From these findings there is evidence that aldehydes released from bioprosthetic valve tissue may contribute to the lack of endothelial cell coverage in human implants.