Features of molecular phenotype and ultrastructure of smooth muscle cells in ascending aorta in premature born rats

Preterm birth can contribute to the development of diseases of circulatory system in adulthood due to the incompleteness of the morphogenesis of the blood vessels wall. Smooth muscle cells are the leading cell population in the middle shell of the aortic wall and are plastic in nature, i. e. they are able to change their phenotype depending on the conditions of their environment. The presence of synthetically active smooth muscle cells in the aortic wall of an adult individual is a predictor of the formation of a wide range of cardiovascular diseases. The aim of our study is to identify the morphofunctional features of molecular phenotype and ultrastructure of smooth muscle cells of ascending aorta wall in rats born 12 and 24 hours prematurely. The paper presents the results of immunohistochemical and morphometric, as well as ultrastructural analysis of ascending aorta wall in Wistar rats born 12 and 24 hours prematurely. It has been shown that preterm birth leads to a later change in the phenotype of smooth muscle cells from synthetic to contractile, which can negatively affect the morphofunctional state of the cardiovascular system.