Effect of High Glucose Concentration on Collagen Synthesis and Cholesterol Level in the Phenotypic Modulation of Aortic Cultured Smooth Muscle Cells of Sand Rat (Psammomys obesus)

Abstract

To simulate diabetic conditions, the effects of high glucose concentration on collagen synthesis and cholesterol level in cultured aortic smooth muscle cells ofPsammomyswere investigated. For collagen biosynthesis, smooth muscle cells (SMCs) were incubated in synthetic proliferative phase and in postconfluent phase withH3-proline. Cellular cholesterol was determined by enzymatic method. Under high glucose concentration, the results showed morphological modifications characterized by morphometric cellular, nuclear, and nucleolar changes. In biochemical studies, the authors observed an increase of free and esterified cellular cholesterol as well as of total proteins, collagen biosynthesis, andα1 (I+III) andα2 (I) chains of collagen contained in the SMCs and in the extracellular matrix. These results showed the sensitivity ofPsammomysaortic SMCs to high glucose concentration and would constitute an interesting cellular model to study atherosclerosis pathogeny in experimental diabetes.