Role and mechanism of pericyte in protection of vascular reactivity in septic rats

Abstract

Objective To determine the protective effects of pericytes (PCs) on the mesenteric vasomotor reactivity in septic rats. Methods The sepsis model of rats was established with cecal ligation and puncture (CLP). SD rats (both sexes, 12~14 weeks old, weighing 180 to 220 g) were randomly divided into normal control, sepsis, conventional treatment (CT group), and PCs+CT group, with 16 rats in each group. The rats from the CT group were given conventional fluid resuscitation (Ringer lactate liquid)+dopamine+cefuroxime, and those of the PCs+CT group were given venous injection of 106 cells PCs in addition. The vascular reactivity in mesenteric arteriole, velocity of red blood cells in mesenteric arteriole and venule, amounts of liver and kidney blood flow, and expression level of p-MLC20 in superior mesenteric artery were observed and compared among the groups. Results Compared with normal control group, the vascular reactivity was significantly decreased after septic shock (P < 0.01). Conventional treatment slightly improved the vascular reactivity. PCs treatment significantly improved vascular hyporeactivity and organ perfusion in rats with septic shock (P < 0.01), with constriction and relaxation of mesenteric arteriole increased to 81.5% and 86.9%, respectively. The protective effect of PCs on vascular reactivity was associated with the expression of p-MLC20 (P < 0.01). Conclusion PCs protect the vital organ function by improving the vascular constriction and relaxation in septic rats.

Keywords

• sepsis
• pericytes
• vascular reactivity
• p-mlc20