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Bone‐like Particles Circulate in the Peripheral Blood of 6‐ and 18‐Month‐Old Male Fischer‐344 Rats
Author(s) -
Lee Seungyong,
Guderian Sophie,
Prisby Rhonda
Publication year - 2018
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.2018.32.1_supplement.843.20
Subject(s) - blood flow , anatomy , bone marrow , chemistry , scanning electron microscope , pathology , medicine , materials science , composite material
We recently identified a novel vascular pathology whereby bone marrow blood vessels progressively ossify (i.e., calcify) with advancing age. Examination of ossified and normal blood vessels revealed ossified (i.e., bone‐like) particles (OSP) at the luminal and abluminal surfaces. We theorized that OSP gain access to the peripheral circulation and hypothesized that their frequency would augment with advancing age. Whole blood samples were collected from male Fischer‐344 rats (6‐mon, n=6 and 18‐mon, n=6) and 500 μL were processed to characterize OSP. The OSP were quantified and sorted with a BD FACSAria II flow cytometer, and imaged with confocal and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). Diameter and size distribution were assessed from 3 rats per group utilizing SEM microphotographs and Image J. Data are presented as Means ± SEM. Body mass was higher ( p <0.05) at 18‐ vs. 6‐mon. The number of sorted OSP did not differ between groups (i.e., 6‐mon, 2,540 ± 492 per 500 μL and 18‐mon, 3,296 ± 868 per 500 μL). OSP ranging in diameter from <1–15 μm (6‐mon, n=47 ± 5 and 18‐mon, n=52 ± 6), 15–30 μm (6‐mon, n=12 ± 4 and 18‐mon, n=5 ± 4) and 45–60 μm (6‐mon, n=2 ± 1 and 18‐mon, n=1 ± 0.7) were present at equal frequencies between groups. However, there were more ( p >0.05) OSP ranging in diameter from 30–45 μm at 6‐mon (n=3 ± 0) vs. 18‐mon (n=1 ± 0.6). SEM images revealed OSP with rough and jagged edges (Figure 1). In conclusion, OSP >15 μm may serve as emboli, and their rough morphology may damage the endothelial cell lining of blood vessels. Finally, circulating OSP potentially contribute to vascular calcification. Support or Funding Information Supported by NIH NIGMS P20 GM103446 Core Access Award (R. Prisby) and AHA 16IRG27550003 (R. Prisby). This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2018 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal .