Effect of the calcium entry blocker, Flunarizine, on ruthenium red uptake by endothelial cells following acute electrical stimulation of rabbit carotid arteries

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Abstract
Local transmural electrical stimulation with DC of a carotid artery by means of implanted electrodes causes subendothelial fibromuscular proliferates or atheroma (if the animal receives a cholesterolcontaining diet) beneath the anode. The endothelial lining is maintained when weak current is used for stimulation. The model permits studies of permeability of the endothelium in all stages of the plaque development. Ruthenium red as a marker for the glycocalyx is transiently taken up into the cytoplasm of the endothelial cells beneath the anode immediately after a 30 or 60 min lasting stimulation period. When staining the endothelium later than two hours after the end of an acute stimulation period, the ruthenium red staining is again normal. This indicates that the increased permeability to large molecules is reversible. Injection of the calcium entry blocker Flunarizine inhibited the cytoplasmic uptake of ruthenium red, showing that an increased entry of calcium into the endothelial cells may contribute to the disturbance in the permeability of large molecules into the endothelium.