The Endothelial Glycocalyx Protects Against Myocardial Edema
Bernard M. van den BergFrom the Department of Medical Physics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The NetherlandsHans VinkFrom the Department of Medical Physics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The NetherlandsJos A. E. SpaanFrom the Department of Medical Physics, Academic Medical Center, University of Amsterdam, The Netherlands
2003en
ABI
Abstract
Myocardial tissue edema attributable to increased microvascular fluid loss contributes to cardiac dysfunction after myocardial ischemia, cardiopulmonary bypass, hypertension, and sepsis. Recent studies suggest that carbohydrate structures on the luminal surface of microvascular endothelium are essential to prevent tissue edema. We carefully preserved these structures for visualization with electron microscopy, revealing that the rat myocardial capillary endothelial surface is coated with a 0.2- to 0.5-microm-thick carbohydrate layer and that its degradation instantly results in notable myocardial tissue edema.
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Cited by 20 references