Bovine Coronary Artery Endothelial Cells: BCAEC (Cryovial)

BCAEC have been used to demonstrate that the stress hormone cortisol inhibits NO synthase and Ca2+ mobilization leading to decreased NO release by endothelial cells, resulting in increased arterial contraction and decreased blood flow (Rogers, 2002). Similar action mechanism were determined for cocaine effects on arteries (He, 2005). Additionally it was found that cocaine-induced apoptosis of endothelial cells is mediated by attenuation of NO production, down-regulation of Bcl-2 and translocation of Bac to the mitochondria, followed by release of cytochrome c and activation of caspase 9 and caspase 3 (He, 2000, 2001). BCAEC were also used to determine that diabetes-related vascular dysfunction is mediated by decreased NO production due to direct substrate competition between NO synthase and arginase whose activity is markedly increased in many conditions characterized by vascular dysfunction (Romero, 2008). BCAEC were also used to evaluate novel mesh-like materials for their suitability for biomedical applications (Nair, 2004).