Computerized quantitative analysis of the effects of platelet-activating factor on endothelial cell morphological parameters / 中国病理生理杂志

ABSTRACT

Software for quantitative analysis of endothelial cell (EC) area, form fac-tor, intercell-plasma-membrane distance and percentage of intercellular gap area in the cellmonolayer was established in a computer image analysing system with great capacity, highspeed and high resolution. The effects of platelet activating factor (PAF) on EC morpho-logical parameters were studied. The results showed that the untreated EC monolayer hadclose contact and narrow gap among cells. After 60 min treatment with 10~(-8)mol/L PAF,the cells showed obvious retraction, with procession of different size from the plasma mem-brane and increased intercellular gap. Computerized quantitative analysis revealed thatthe treatment with PAF for 10 min increased intercellular distance and percentage of inter-cellular gap area in cell monolayer. Thirty minutes treatment decreased cell area butincreased form factor ascertaining to the retraction of EC. This is probably an importantmechanism of increased vascular permeability induced by PAF It is also suggested thatcomputerized image analysis is helpful in rapid, precise and quantitative measurement ofEC morphological changes. It provides a new method for studying the effects of endothe-lial cells in increased vascular permeability.