The BPAE cell line was established in the late 1970s from tissue excised from the main stem of the pulmonary artery of a young cow (Bos taurus). The cells exhibit endothelial morphology and are widely used in studies relating to hypertension, atherosclerosis, and coronary heart disease.

BPAE cells are positive for angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE), a substance closely associated with the control of blood pressure and volume. The cells have also tested positive for bovine diarrhea virus, an important bovine viral pathogen.

Endothelial cells are a special type of epithelial cell that line the blood and lymph vessels and cavities of the heart. The cells usually exhibit flat, elongate forms, and when they occur in the lining of the pulmonary arteries, they are typically positioned in such a manner that their long axes are oriented parallel to the blood flow direction. In vivo, the cells in an endothelial layer are linked to one another via the specialized junctions known as gap junctions and tight junctions.

Applying a popular triple fluorophore technique, the BPAE cell culture presented above was stained with MitoTracker Red CMXRos, DAPI, and Alexa Fluor 488 conjugated to phalloidin, which target the mitochondrial network, DNA, and F-actin, respectively. Images were recorded in grayscale with a 12-bit digital camera coupled to either a Nikon E-600 or Eclipse 80i microscope equipped with bandpass emission fluorescence filter optical blocks. During the processing stage, individual image channels were pseudocolored with RGB values corresponding to each of the fluorophore emission spectral profiles.

Bovine Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cell Culture Labeled with Soybean Agglutinin - Illustrated in this section is an adherent culture of BPAE cells that was labeled with Alexa Fluor 488 conjugated to soybean agglutinin, a lectin isolated from Glycine max that selectively binds terminal alpha- and beta-N-acetylgalactosamine and galactopyranosyl residues. In addition, the cells were labeled with Texas Red conjugated to phalloidin and DAPI, targeting the cytoskeletal F-actin network and DNA, respectively.

F-Actin and Mitochondria Distribution in BPAE Cells - The intracellular mitochondrial network of the culture of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells appearing in this section was stained with MitoTracker Red CMXRos. The specimen was also labeled for filamentous actin and DNA with Alexa Fluor 488 conjugated to phalloidin and DAPI.

Immunofluorescent Labeling of Bovine Artery Cells with Alexa Fluor 488 and Soybean Agglutinin - Alexa Fluor 488 conjugated to soybean agglutinin was utilized to immunofluorescently label terminal alpha- and beta-N-acetylgalactosamine and galactopyranosyl residues in a culture of bovine pulmonary artery endothelial cells. The specimen was also stained with Texas Red conjugated to phalloidin and DAPI to visualize filamentous actin and cell nuclei, respectively.

Triple Fluorophore Labeling of BPAE Cells with MitoTracker Red CMXRos, Alexa Fluor 488, and Hoechst 33342 - The culture of BPAE cells illustrated in this section was labeled for the cytoskeletal filamentous actin network with Alexa Fluor 488 conjugated to phalloidin, and for the cell nucleus with Hoechst 33342. Additionally, cellular mitochondria were stained with MitoTracker Red CMXRos, a complex aminated xanthene derivative.

Mitosis in Bovine Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells - To visualize mitochondria in a monolayer BPAE culture, the cells were treated with MitoTracker Red CMXRos, a derivative of X-Rosamine. Cell nuclei were targeted with the popular nuclear counterstain SYTOX Green. The image in this section reveals cleavage of a mitotic BPAE cell into three daughter cells.

Bovine Pulmonary Artery Endothelial Cells Labeled for the Cytoskeletal F-Actin Network and Mitochondria - Traditionally, the endothelium was considered to be an inert stratum of cells. More recently, however, it has been realized that the tissue lining the lumen of all blood vessels is more dynamic than previously thought. Not only does the endothelium allow the passage of molecules of water and certain other materials across the walls of blood vessels, but it also secretes and modifies various vasoactive substances.