The endothelial glycocalyx protects against myocardial edema

Bernard M. van den Berg, Hans Vink, Jos A. E. Spaan

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405 Citations (Scopus)

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-mum-thick carbohydrate layer and that its degradation instantly results in notable myocardial tissue edema
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)592-594
JournalCirculation Research
Volume92
Issue number6
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 2003

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