Arterial wall neovascularization induced by glycerol

An intense and significant neovascularization, with numerous capillaries gr owing into the media layer of the rat femoral artery, was demonstrated when glycerol was administered into the interstitium between the femoral vein a nd the femoral artery. The maximum microvascularization was observed at day s 7 and 9 after glycerol administration. Afterwards, involution of the majo rity of the newly-formed microvessels in the arterial wall occurred. Other substances containing glycerol in their molecules, such as triacetyl-glycer ol and tributyril-glycerol, failed to produce significant neovascularizatio n in the media layer of the femoral artery. Neovascularization of the arter ial wall was preceded by a considerable decrease in the number of the smoot h muscle cells, which experienced apoptosis and necrobiosis, disappearing i n extense areas of the arterial segment affected by glycerol. Coinciding wi th neovascularization and microvascular involution, repopulation of the med ia layer by smooth muscle cells was observed.