Microvascular rarefaction and tissue vascular resistance in hypertension

1989 ◽  
Vol 256 (1) ◽  
pp. H126-H131 ◽  
Author(s):  
A. S. Greene ◽  
P. J. Tonellato ◽  
J. Lui ◽  
J. H. Lombard ◽  
A. W. Cowley

The purpose of this study was to quantitatively estimate the relative contribution of arteriolar rarefaction (disappearance of microvessels) and arteriolar constriction to the increases in total peripheral resistance and changes in the patterns of flow distribution observed in hypertension. A mathematical model of the hamster cheek pouch intraluminal microcirculation was constructed based on data from the literature and observations from our own laboratory. Separate rarefaction and constriction of third-order (3A) and fourth-order (4A) arterioles were performed on the model, and the results were quantified based on the changes of the computed vascular resistance. The degree of increase in resistance depended both on the number and the order of vessels rarefied or constricted and also on the position of those vessels in the network. The maximum increases in resistance obtained in the model runs were 21% for rarefaction and 75% for constriction. Rarefaction, but not constriction, produced large increases in the degree of heterogeneity of blood flow in the various vessel orders. These results demonstrate that vessel rarefaction significantly influences tissue blood flow resistance to a degree comparable with vessel constriction; however, unlike constriction, microvascular rarefaction markedly altered blood flow distribution in our model of the hamster cheek pouch vascular bed. These findings conform with the hypothesis that a significant component of the increase in total peripheral resistance in hypertension may be due to vessel rarefaction.

1979 ◽  
Vol 57 (5) ◽  
pp. 995-1002 ◽  
Author(s):  
David R. Jones ◽  
Robert M. Bryan Jr. ◽  
Nigel H. West ◽  
Raymond H. Lord ◽  
Brenda Clark

The regional distribution of blood flow, both before and during forced diving, was studied in the duck using radioactively labelled microspheres. Cardiac output fell from 227 ± 30 to 95 ± 16 mL kg−1 min−1 after 20–72 s of submergence and to 59 ± 18 mL kg−1 min−1 after 144–250 s of submergence. Mean arterial blood pressure did not change significantly as total peripheral resistance increased by four times during prolonged diving. Before diving the highest proportion of cardiac output went to the heart (2.6 ± 0.5%, n = 9) and kidneys (2.7 ± 0.5%, n = 9), with the brain receiving less than 1%. The share of cardiac output going to the brain and heart increased spectacularly during prolonged dives to 10.5 ± 3% (n = 5) and 15.9 ± 3.8% (n = 5), respectively, while that to the kidney fell to 0.4 ± 0.26% (n = 3). Since cardiac output declined during diving, tissue blood flow (millilitres per gram per minute) to the heart was unchanged although in the case of the brain it increased 2.35 times after 20–75 s of submergence and 8.5 times after 140–250 s of submergence. Spleen blood flow, the highest of any tissue predive (5.6 ± 1.3 mL g−1 min−1, n = 4), was insignificant during diving while adrenal flow increased markedly, in one animal reaching 7.09 mL g−1 min−1. The present results amplify general conclusions from previous research on regional distribution of blood flow in diving homeotherms, showing that, although both heart and brain receive a significant increase in the proportionate share of cardiac output during diving only the brain receives a significant increase in tissue blood flow, which increases as submergence is prolonged.


1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (6) ◽  
pp. R1276-R1283 ◽  
Author(s):  
D. H. Sigmon ◽  
W. H. Beierwaltes

Nitric oxide (NO) contributes to the regulation of regional blood flow. Inhibition of NO synthesis increases blood pressure and vascular resistance. Using radioactive microspheres and the substrate antagonist N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (10 mg/kg) to block NO synthesis, we tested the hypothesis that there is a significant interaction between the vasodilator NO and the vasoconstrictor angiotensin II, which regulates regional hemodynamics. Further, we investigated the influence of anesthesia on this interaction. L-NAME increased blood pressure, decreased cardiac output, and increased total peripheral resistance in both anesthetized and conscious rats. In anesthetized rats, L-NAME decreased blood flow to visceral organs (i.e. kidney, intestine, and lung) but had little effect on blood flow to the brain, heart, or hindlimb. Treating anesthetized rats with the angiotensin II receptor antagonist losartan (10 mg/kg) attenuated the decrease in cardiac output and the increase in total peripheral resistance without affecting the pressor response to L-NAME. Losartan also attenuated the visceral hemodynamic responses to L-NAME. In conscious rats, L-NAME decreased blood flow to all organ beds. Treating these rats with losartan only marginally attenuated the increase in total peripheral resistance to L-NAME without significantly affecting the pressor response or the decrease in cardiac output. Losartan had no effect on the regional hemodynamic responses to L-NAME. These data suggest that NO-mediated vascular relaxation is an important regulator of total peripheral and organ vascular resistance. (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)


1986 ◽  
Vol 251 (2) ◽  
pp. R314-R319
Author(s):  
D. L. Crandall ◽  
B. M. Goldstein ◽  
F. H. Lizzo ◽  
R. A. Gabel ◽  
P. Cervoni

Direct quantitation of blood flow with radioactive microspheres in conscious spontaneously obese rats indicated that the development of obesity was associated with an elevated cardiac output and stroke volume, a normotensive blood pressure, and a reduced total peripheral resistance when directly comparing obese rats with their lean counterparts. Obesity was also associated with increased blood flow and decreased regional vascular resistance in a variety of vascular beds, whereas cardiac index and total peripheral resistance per unit of body weight were similar between groups. When corrected for tissue weight, unique alterations in flow and resistance were observed in the adipose tissue. When expressed as resistance per organ, the greatest relative alterations in vascular resistance with the development of obesity also occurred in the adipose tissue. Furthermore, localized adipose tissue expansion through cellular hypertrophy was consistently associated with a different pattern of blood flow and vascular resistance than adipose tissue that expanded through both cellular hypertrophy and hyperplasia, implying an association between depot cellularity and its hemodynamic profile.


2006 ◽  
Vol 101 (1) ◽  
pp. 307-315 ◽  
Author(s):  
Johan Fredrik Brekke ◽  
William F. Jackson ◽  
Steven S. Segal

Intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) governs the contractile status of arteriolar smooth muscle cells (SMC). Although studied in vitro, little is known of SMC [Ca2+]i dynamics during the local control of blood flow. We tested the hypothesis that the rise and fall of SMC [Ca2+]i underlies arteriolar constriction and dilation in vivo. Aparenchymal segments of second-order arterioles (diameter 35 ± 2 μm) were prepared in the superfused cheek pouch of anesthetized hamsters ( n = 18) and perifused with the ratiometric dye fura PE-3 (AM) to load SMC (1 μM, 20 min). Resting SMC [Ca2+]i was 406 ± 37 nM. Elevating superfusate O2 from 0 to 21% produced constriction (11 ± 2 μm) that was unaffected by dye loading; [Ca2+]i increased by 108 ± 53 nM ( n = 6, P < 0.05). Cycling of [Ca2+]i during vasomotion (amplitude, 150 ± 53 nM; n = 4) preceded corresponding diameter changes (7 ± 1 μm) by ∼2 s. Microiontophoresis (1 μm pipette tip; 1 μA, 1 s) of phenylephrine (PE) transiently increased [Ca2+]i by 479 ± 64 nM ( n = 8, P < 0.05) with constriction (26 ± 3 μm). Flushing blood from the lumen with saline increased fluorescence at 510 nm by ∼45% during excitation at both 340 and 380 nm with no difference in resting [Ca2+]i, diameter or respective responses to PE ( n = 7). Acetylcholine microiontophoresis (1 μA, 1 s) transiently reduced resting SMC [Ca2+]i by 131 ± 21 nM ( n = 6, P < 0.05) with vasodilation (17 ± 1 μm). Superfusion of sodium nitroprusside (10 μM) transiently reduced SMC [Ca2+]i by 124 ± 18 nM ( n = 6, P < 0.05), whereas dilation (23 ± 5 μm) was sustained. Resolution of arteriolar SMC [Ca2+]i in vivo discriminates key signaling events that govern the local control of tissue blood flow.


1985 ◽  
Vol 249 (2) ◽  
pp. H265-H271 ◽  
Author(s):  
B. L. Pegram ◽  
M. B. Kardon ◽  
N. C. Trippodo ◽  
F. E. Cole ◽  
A. A. MacPhee

Partially purified low (LMW) and high-(HMW) molecular-weight atrial natriuretic extracts were administered intravenously (540 micrograms protein/kg) to conscious Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) rats. Both LMW and HMW atrial natriuretic extracts produced an immediate decrease in mean arterial pressure that reached maximum within 5 min and returned to control levels within 30 min. In both strains, cardiac output decreased approximately 14% following administration of LMW. Total peripheral resistance increased only in SHR. Organ blood flow was significantly decreased to skin, brain, heart, kidneys, and splanchnic organs of WKY and to skin, muscle, heart, and splanchnic organs of SHR following administration of LMW. Corresponding increases in organ vascular resistance index were observed in brain, heart, and splanchnic organs of WKY and in skin, heart, and splanchnic organs of SHR. To some extent, the changes in organ blood flow may be a reflection of the decrease in cardiac output induced by LMW. After administration of HMW, no significant changes were observed in cardiac output or total peripheral resistance, although they tended to decrease. Organ vascular resistance was decreased to skin, muscle, brain, and splanchnic organs of SHR. Little difference was observed between WKY and SHR responses to atrial natriuretic extracts. These data indicate that atrial natriuretic extracts have an effect on systemic and regional hemodynamics in conscious rats that differs markedly from those of vasodilators such as nitroglycerin or hydralazine.


2003 ◽  
Vol 284 (6) ◽  
pp. H1985-H1994 ◽  
Author(s):  
Walkyria O. Sampaio ◽  
Antônio A. S. Nascimento ◽  
Robson A. S. Santos

The systemic and regional hemodynamics effects of ANG-(1–7) were examined in urethane-anesthetized rats. The blood flow distribution (kidneys, skin, mesentery, lungs, spleen, brain, muscle, and adrenals), cardiac output, and total peripheral resistance were investigated by using fluorescent microspheres. Blood pressure and heart rate were recorded from the brachial artery. ANG-(1–7) infusion (110 fmol · min−1 · 10 min−1 iv) significantly increased blood flow to the kidney (5.10 ± 1.07 to 8.30 ± 0.97 ml · min−1 · g−1), mesentery (0.73 ± 0.16 to 1.17 ± 0.49 ml · min−1 · g−1), brain (1.32 ± 0.44 to 2.18 ± 0.85 ml · min−1 · g−1), and skin (0.07 ± 0.02 to 0.18 ± 0.07 ml · min−1 · g−1) and the vascular conductance in these organs. ANG-(1–7) also produced a significant increase in cardiac index (30%) and a decrease in total peripheral resistance (2.90 ± 0.55 to 2.15 ± 0.28 mmHg · ml−1 · min · 100 g). Blood flow to the spleen, muscle, lungs, and adrenals, as well as the blood pressure and heart rate, were not altered by the ANG-(1–7) infusion. The selective ANG-(1–7) antagonist A-779 reduced the blood flow in renal, cerebral, mesenteric, and cutaneous beds and blocked the ANG-(1–7)-induced vasodilatation in the kidney, mesentery, and skin, suggesting a significant role of endogenous ANG-(1–7) in these territories. The effects of ANG-(1–7) on the cerebral blood flow, cardiac index, systolic volume, and total peripheral resistance were partially attenuated by A-779. A high dose of ANG-(1–7) (11 pmol · min−1 · 10 min−1) caused an opposite effect of that produced by the low dose. Our results show for the first time that ANG-(1–7) has a previously unsuspected potent effect in the blood flow distribution and systemic hemodynamics.


1963 ◽  
Vol 204 (1) ◽  
pp. 71-72 ◽  
Author(s):  
Edward D. Freis ◽  
Jay N. Cohn ◽  
Thomas E. Liptak ◽  
Aristide G. B. Kovach

The mechanism of the diastolic pressure elevation occurring during left stellate ganglion stimulation was investigated. The cardiac output rose considerably, the heart rate remained essentially unchanged, and the total peripheral resistance fell moderately. The diastolic rise appeared to be due to increased blood flow rather than to any active changes in resistance vessels.


1997 ◽  
Vol 273 (3) ◽  
pp. R1126-R1131 ◽  
Author(s):  
Y. X. Wang ◽  
J. T. Crofton ◽  
S. L. Bealer ◽  
L. Share

The greater pressor response to vasopressin in male than in nonestrous female rats results from a greater increase in total peripheral resistance in males. The present study was performed to identify the vascular beds that contribute to this difference. Mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and changes in blood flow in the mesenteric and renal arteries and terminal aorta were measured in conscious male and nonestrous female rats 3 h after surgery. Graded intravenous infusions of vasopressin induced greater increases in MABP and mesenteric vascular resistance and a greater decrease in mesenteric blood flow in males. Vasopressin also increased renal vascular resistance to a greater extent in males. Because renal blood flow remained unchanged, this difference may be due to autoregulation. The vasopressin-induced reduction in blood flow and increased resistance in the hindquarters were moderate and did not differ between sexes. Thus the greater vasoconstrictor response to vasopressin in the mesenteric vascular bed of male than nonestrous females contributed importantly to the sexually dimorphic pressor response to vasopressin in these experiments.


1996 ◽  
Vol 271 (2) ◽  
pp. H602-H613 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. P. Kunert ◽  
J. F. Liard ◽  
D. J. Abraham

Tissue O2 delivery in excess of metabolic demand may be a factor in the development of high vascular resistance in experimental models of volume-expanded hypertension. This hypothesis was previously tested in rats with an exchange transfusion of red blood cells treated with inositol hexaphosphate or an intravenous infusion of RSR-4, allosteric effectors of hemoglobin. The binding of these drugs with hemoglobin effect a conformational change in the molecule, such that the affinity for O2 is reduced. However, in both preparations, the changes in vascular resistance could have been nonspecific. The present studies used intravenous infusions of RSR-13, which did not share some of the problematic characteristics of RSR-4 and inositol hexaphosphate. Conscious instrumented rats (an electromagnetic flow probe on ascending aorta or an iliac, mesenteric, or renal Doppler flow probe) were studied for 6 h after an RSR-13 infusion of 200 mg/kg in 15 min. This dose significantly increased arterial P50 (PO2 at which hemoglobin is 50% saturated) from 38 +/- 0.8 to 58 +/- 1.4 mmHg at 1 h after the start of the infusion. In the 3rd h cardiac output fell significantly from a control value of 358 +/- 33 to 243 +/- 24 ml.kg-1.min-1 and total peripheral resistance significantly increased from 0.31 +/- 0.03 to 0.43 +/- 0.04 mmHg.ml-1.kg.min. Cardiac output and P50 returned toward control over the next few hours. Neither cardiac output nor total peripheral resistance changed in the group of rats receiving vehicle alone. In a separate group of rats, iliac flow decreased significantly to 60% of control and iliac resistance increased to 160% of control. Iliac flow increased significantly in the group of rats that received vehicle only. Although the mechanism of these changes has not been established, these results suggest that a decreased O2 affinity leads to an increased total peripheral resistance and regional vascular resistance and support the hypothesis that O2 plays a role in the metabolic autoregulation of blood flow.


2001 ◽  
Vol 280 (3) ◽  
pp. H1222-H1231 ◽  
Author(s):  
X. F. Figueroa ◽  
A. D. Martínez ◽  
D. R. González ◽  
P. I. Jara ◽  
S. Ayala ◽  
...  

To assess the hypothesis that microvascular nitric oxide (NO) is critical to maintain blood flow and solute exchange, we quantified NO production in the hamster cheek pouch in vivo, correlating it with vascular dynamics. Hamsters (100–120 g) were anesthetized and prepared for measurement of microvessel diameters by intravital microscopy, of plasma flow by isotopic sodium clearance, and of NO production by chemiluminescence. Analysis of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) location by immunocytochemistry and subcellular fractionation revealed that eNOS was present in arterioles and venules and was 67 ± 7% membrane bound. Basal NO release was 60.1 ± 5.1 pM/min ( n = 35), and plasma flow was 2.95 ± 0.27 μl/min ( n = 29). Local NO synthase inhibition with 30 μM N ω-nitro-l-arginine reduced NO production to 8.6 ± 2.6 pmol/min (−83 ± 5%, n = 9) and plasma flow to 1.95 ± 0.15 μl/min (−28 ± 12%, n = 17) within 30–45 min, in parallel with constriction of arterioles (9–14%) and venules (19–25%). The effects of N ω-nitro-l-arginine (10–30 μM) were proportional to basal microvascular conductance ( r = 0.7, P < 0.05) and fully prevented by 1 mM l-arginine. We conclude that in this tissue, NO production contributes to 35–50% of resting microvascular conductance and plasma-tissue exchange.


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