Most cited article - PubMed ID 2528765
Effect of the administration of prostaglandins (PGE2) in the early postnatal period on closure of the ductus arteriosus in the laboratory rat
In 2023, six decades have elapsed since the first experimental work on the heart muscle was published, in which a member of the Institute of Physiology of the Czech Academy of Sciences participated as an author; Professor Otakar Poupa was the founder and protagonist of this research domain. Sixty years - more than half of the century - is certainly significant enough anniversary that is worth looking back and reflecting on what was achieved during sometimes very complicated periods of life. It represents the history of an entire generation of experimental cardiologists; it is possible to learn from its successes and mistakes. The objective of this review is to succinctly illuminate the scientific trajectory of an experimental cardiological department over a 60-year span, from its inaugural publication to the present. The old truth - historia magistra vitae - is still valid. Keywords: Heart, Adaptation, Development, Hypoxia, Protection.
- MeSH
- Academies and Institutes * history MeSH
- Biomedical Research * history trends MeSH
- History, 20th Century MeSH
- History, 21st Century MeSH
- Physiology history MeSH
- Cardiology history trends MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Heart physiology MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Check Tag
- History, 20th Century MeSH
- History, 21st Century MeSH
- Humans MeSH
- Animals MeSH
- Publication type
- Journal Article MeSH
- Historical Article MeSH
- Review MeSH
- Geographicals
- Czech Republic MeSH
The evolution of morphological changes in the wall of the ductus arteriosus during its physiological closure in newborn rats was examined by electron microscopy. The contraction of smooth muscle cells in the tunica media seems to be the primary mechanism which leads to the physiological closure of the ductus arteriosus. For this reason our attention was centred mainly on the morphology of the tunica media. No important changes in the ultrastructure of smooth muscle cells can be observed in the early phases of the closure. Most of them exhibit ultrastructural features of cells with enhanced synthetic activity during all phases of the closure. The permanent contraction of smooth muscle cells results in their morphological changes. The most striking is the herniation of smooth muscle cell cytoplasm into the endothelial and later into adjoining muscle cells. These changes together with signs of degeneration of the smooth muscle cells are already clearly discernible 120 min after birth. The elastic component of the tunica media exhibits surprisingly fast changes. As soon as 60 min after birth, the fragmentation of elastic membranes and their structural changes provided evidence about the degradation of elastic material. The matrix vesicles, probably derived from the lysosomal apparatus of the muscle cells, may play an essential role in this process.
