Role of EDHF in conduction of vasodilation along hamster cheek pouch arterioles in vivo

2000 ◽  
Vol 278 (6) ◽  
pp. H1832-H1839 ◽  
Author(s):  
Donald G. Welsh ◽  
Steven S. Segal

We tested whether local and conducted responses to ACh depend on factors released from endothelial cells (EC) in cheek pouch arterioles of anesthetized hamsters. ACh was delivered from a micropipette (1 s, 500 nA), while arteriolar diameter (rest, ∼40 μm) was monitored at the site of application (local) and at 520 and 1,040 μm upstream (conducted). Under control conditions, ACh elicited local (22–65 μm) and conducted (14–44 μm) vasodilation. Indomethacin (10 μM) had no effect, whereas N ω-nitro-l-arginine (100 μM) reduced local and conducted vasodilation by 5–8% ( P < 0.05). Miconazole (10 μM) or 17-octadecynoic acid (17-ODYA; 10 μM) diminished local vasodilation by 15–20% and conducted responses by 50–70% ( P < 0.05), suggesting a role for cytochrome P-450 (CYP) metabolites in arteriolar responses to ACh. Membrane potential ( E m) was recorded in smooth muscle cells (SMC) and in EC identified with dye labeling. At rest (control E m, typically −30 mV), ACh evoked local (15–32 mV) and conducted (6–31 mV) hyperpolarizations in SMC and EC. Miconazole inhibited SMC and EC hyperpolarization, whereas 17-ODYA inhibited hyperpolarization of SMC but not of EC. Findings indicate that ACh-induced release of CYP metabolites from arteriolar EC evoke SMC hyperpolarization that contributes substantively to conducted vasodilation.

1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (1) ◽  
pp. H60-H65 ◽  
Author(s):  
Eugene D. McGahren ◽  
James M. Beach ◽  
Brian R. Duling

It has been proposed that capillaries can detect changes in tissue metabolites and generate signals that are communicated upstream to resistance vessels. The mechanism for this communication may involve changes in capillary endothelial cell membrane potentials which are then conducted to upstream arterioles. We have tested the capacity of capillary endothelial cells in vivo to respond to pharmacological stimuli. In a hamster cheek pouch preparation, capillary endothelial cells were labeled with the voltage-sensitive dye di-8-ANEPPS. Fluorescence from capillary segments (75–150 μm long) was excited at 475 nm and recorded at 560 and 620 nm with a dual-wavelength photomultiplier system. KCl was applied using pressure injection, and acetylcholine (ACh) and phenylephrine (PE) were applied iontophoretically to these capillaries. Changes in the ratio of the fluorescence emission at two emission wavelengths were used to estimate changes in the capillary endothelial membrane potential. Application of KCl resulted in depolarization, whereas application of the vehicle did not. Application of ACh and PE resulted in hyperpolarization and depolarization, respectively. The capillary responses could be blocked by including a receptor antagonist (atropine or prazosin, respectively) in the superfusate. We conclude that the capillary membrane potential is capable of responding to pharmacological stimuli. We hypothesize that capillaries can respond to changes in the milieu of surrounding tissue via changes in endothelial membrane potential.


1997 ◽  
Vol 272 (2) ◽  
pp. H714-H721 ◽  
Author(s):  
E. D. McGahren ◽  
K. A. Dora ◽  
D. N. Damon ◽  
B. R. Duling

At an arteriolar bifurcation, occlusion of one of the branch arterioles has been reported to result in an increase in flow, shear stress, and vasodilation in the opposite unoccluded branch. This dilator response in the unoccluded branch, often referred to as the "parallel occlusion response," has been cited as evidence that flow-dependent dilation is a primary regulator of arteriolar diameter in the microcirculation. It has not been previously noted that, during this maneuver, flow through the feed arteriole would be expected to decrease and logically should cause that vessel to constrict. We tested this prediction in vivo by measuring red blood cell (RBC) velocity and diameter changes in response to arteriolar occlusion in the microcirculatory beds of three preparations: the hamster cheek pouch, the hamster cremaster, and the rat cremaster. In all preparations, a vasodilation was observed in the feed arteriole, despite a decrease in both flow and calculated wall shear stress through this vessel. Unexpectedly, we found that dilation occurred in the unoccluded branch arterioles even in those cases in which RBC velocity and shear stress did not increase in the unoccluded branch arterioles. All values returned to the baseline level after the removal of occlusion. The magnitude of the dilation of the feed and branch arterioles varied between species and tissues, but feed and branch arterioles within a given preparation always responded in a similar way to each other. We conclude from our experiments that mechanisms other than flow-dependent dilation are involved in the vasodilation observed in the microcirculation during occlusion of an arteriolar branch.


1998 ◽  
Vol 274 (1) ◽  
pp. H382-H383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Akos Koller gabor Kaley

The following is the abstract of the article discussed in the subsequent letter: McGahren, Eugene D., Kim A. Dora, David N. Damon, and Brian R. Duling. A test of the role of flow-dependent dilation in arteriolar responses to occlusion. Am. J. Physiol. 272 ( Heart Circ. Physiol. 41): H714–H721, 1997.—At an arteriolar bifurcation, occlusion of one of the branch arterioles has been reported to result in an increase in flow, shear stress, and vasodilation in the opposite unoccluded branch. This dilator response in the unoccluded branch, often referred to as the “parallel occlusion response,” has been cited as evidence that flow-dependent dilation is a primary regulator of arteriolar diameter in the microcirculation. It has not been previously noted that, during this maneuver, flow through the feed arteriole would be expected to decrease and logically should cause that vessel to constrict. We tested this prediction in vivo by measuring red blood cell (RBC) velocity and diameter changes in response to arteriolar occlusion in the microcirculatory beds of three preparations: the hamster cheek pouch, the hamster cremaster, and the rat cremaster. In all preparations, a vasodilation was observed in the feed arteriole, despite a decrease in both flow and calculated wall shear stress through this vessel. Unexpectedly, we found that dilation occurred in the unoccluded branch arterioles even in those cases in which RBC velocity and shear stress did not increase in the unoccluded branch arterioles. All values returned to the baseline level after the removal of occlusion. The magnitude of the dilation of the feed and branch arterioles varied between species and tissues, but feed and branch arterioles within a given preparation always responded in a similar way to each other. We conclude from our experiments that mechanisms other than flow-dependent dilation are involved in the vasodilation observed in the microcirculation during occlusion of an arteriolar branch.


2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (1) ◽  
pp. H119-H126 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kim A. Dora ◽  
Jun Xia ◽  
Brian R. Duling

ACh and KCl stimulate vasomotor responses that spread rapidly and bidirectionally along arteriole walls, most likely via spread of electric current or Ca2+ through gap junctions. We examined these possibilities with isolated, cannulated, and perfused hamster cheek pouch arterioles (50- to 80-μm resting diameter). After intraluminal loading of 2 μM fluo 3 to measure Ca2+ or 1 μM di-8-ANEPPS to measure membrane potential, photometric techniques were used to selectively measure changes in intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) or membrane potential in endothelial cells. Activation of the endothelium by micropipette application of ACh (10-4 M, 1.0-s pulse) to a short segment of arteriole (100–200 μm) increased endothelial cell [Ca2+]i and caused hyperpolarization at the site of stimulation. This response was followed rapidly by vasodilation of the entire arteriole (∼2-mm length). Change in membrane potential always preceded dilation, both at the site of stimulation and at distant sites along the arteriole. In contrast, an increase in endothelial cell [Ca2+]i was observed only at the application site. Micropipette application of KCl, which can depolarize both smooth muscle and endothelial cells (250 mM, 2.5-s pulse), also caused a rapid, spreading response consisting of depolarization followed by vasoconstriction. With KCl stimulation, in addition to changes in membrane potential, increases in endothelial cell [Ca2+]i were observed at distant sites not directly exposed to KCl. The rapid longitudinal spread of both hyperpolarizing and depolarizing responses support electrical coupling as the mode of signal transmission along the arteriolar length. In addition, the relatively short distance between heterologous cell types enables the superimposed radial Ca2+ signaling between smooth muscle and endothelial cells to modulate vasomotor responses.


Stroke ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 51 (Suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Mieko Oka ◽  
Nobuhiko Ohno ◽  
Takakazu Kawamata ◽  
Tomohiro Aoki

Introduction: Intracranial aneurysm (IA) affects 1 to 5 % in general public and becomes the primary cause of subarachnoid hemorrhage, the most severe form of stroke. However, currently, no drug therapy is available for IAs to prevent progression and rupture of lesions. Elucidation of mechanisms underlying the disease is thus mandatory. Considering the important role of vascular smooth muscle cells (SMCs) in the maintenance of stiffness of arterial walls and also in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis via mediating inflammatory responses, we in the present study analyzed morphological or phenotypical changes of SMCs during the disease development in the lesions. Methods: We subjected rats to an IA model in which lesions are induced by increase of hemodynamic force loading on intracranial arterial bifurcations and performed histopathological analyses of induced lesions including the electron microscopic examination. We then immunostained specimens from induced lesions to explore factors responsible for dedifferentiation or migration of SMCs. In vitro study was also done to examine effect of some candidate factors on dedifferentiation or migration of cultured SMCs. Results: We first found the accumulation of SMCs underneath the endothelial cell layer mainly at the neck portion of the lesion. These cells was positive for the embryonic form of myosin heavy chain, a marker for the dedifferentiated SMCs, and the expression of pro-inflammatory factors like TNF-α. In immunostaining to explore the potential factor regulating the dedifferentiation of SMCs, we found that Platelet-derived growth factor-BB (PDGF-BB) was expressed in endothelial cells at the neck portion of IA walls. Consistently, recombinant PDGF-BB could promote the dedifferentiate of SMCs and chemo-attracted them in in vitro. Finally, in the stenosis model of the carotid artery, PDGF-BB expression was induced in endothelial cells in which high wall shear stress was loaded and the dedifferentiation of SMCs occurred there. Conclusions: The findings from the present study imply the role of dedifferentiated SMCs partially recruited by PDGF-BB from endothelial cells in the formation of inflammatory microenvironment at the neck portion of IA walls, leading to the progression of the disease.


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