Do high-frequency ultrasonic waves cause endothelial dysfunction on canine epicardial coronary arteries?
These experiments currently prove that ultrasonic energy changes endothelial function of epicardial coronary arteries at high power. However, ultrasound does not alter the ability of vascular smooth muscle of canine epicardial coronary arteries to relax.
Ceramide abrogates endothelial cell proliferation independently of apoptosis or necrosis at low concentrations (<or=10 microM) through loss of cyclin A expression with subsequent G1 cell-cycle arrest. Synchronization of HAECs in S-phase with aphidicolin overcomes C2-induced G1-arrest and partially blocks ceramide toxicity. These findings demonstrate the dependence of ceramide toxicity on cell cycle regulation, suggesting a strong bidirectional relationship between cell-cycle control and cell death in vessel biology.