Connective Tissue: Molecular and Cellular Mechanisms of Age-related Changes in Its Functional Properties

The studies reported in this book were carried out in vitro on the skin, aorta, and the tail tendons of 1-, 3-, 12- and 24-month old male Wistar rats, which were kept in standard conditions in the vivarium of V. N Karazin Kharkiv National University, Ukraine. In carrying out all experiments, clearance was obtained on the rules contained in treating animals, in accordance with International principles of the European Convention «On protection of vertebrate animals used in experiments and other scientific works». Standards of biomedical ethics, in accordance with the Law of Ukraine «On protection of animals from man-handling» were as well followed. Fibroblasts from peripheral (limbal) regions of the cornea (limbus cornea) of 1.5-months old male rabbits from the firm «Virola», Kharkov-Ukraine were also used. The monolayer of cells in the primary culture (1st passage) of thesehelps readers to identify the general scope of the presentation. cells was obtained frozen in a medium made up of 70% of Dulbecco's Modification of Eagle?s Medium (DMEM), 20% fetal serum, and 10% dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO). The material was stored in liquid nitrogen for three years. book consists of four part