Sympathetic nerves: effect on conduction in microvessels

血管收缩反应沿小动脉和供血动脉传递，通过缝隙连接实现细胞与细胞之间的耦合。不同的血管床所提供的组织在结构、功能和交感神经支配上存在差异，其传导特性也不同。本研究的具体目的是检测交感神经支配的阻力微血管(小动脉和供血动脉)相对于非交感神经支配的微血管(仓鼠皱缩肌)的内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞中连接蛋白异构体表达的传导血管运动反应。互补性实验将确定交感神经传递的急剧变化如何影响这些参数。长期目标是了解交感神经系统如何影响微血管中控制氧气输送到组织的传导的分子决定因素。了解缝隙连接蛋白表达和功能的调控将有助于缝隙连接功能障碍相关疾病的治疗。

Vasomoter responses are conducted along arterioles and feed arteries through cell-to-cell coupling as enabled by gap junctions. The properties of the conduction differ between vascular beds that supply tissues that differ in structure, function, and sympathetic innervation. The Specific Aim of this study is to examine conducted vasomoter responses as related to connexin isoform expression in endothelial and smooth muscle cells of resistance microvessels (arterioles and feed arteries) that are innervated by sympathetic nerves (hamster retractor muscle) relative to microvessels that are not (hamster cheek pouch epithelium). Complementary experiments will determine how these parameters are effected by acute alterations in sympathetic neurotransmission. The long- term goal is to understand how the sympathetic nervous system influences the molecular determinants of conduction in microvessels that control oxygen transport to tissues. Understanding of such regulation of connexin expression and function will aid in the treatment of diseases involving gap junction dysfunction.