Sympathetic nerves: effect on conduction in microvessels

血管运动反应通过间隙连接使细胞与细胞偶联沿着小动脉和供血动脉沿着传导。不同血管床的传导特性不同，这些血管床供应结构、功能和交感神经支配不同的组织。本研究的具体目的是检查与交感神经（仓鼠牵开肌）支配的阻力微血管（小动脉和供血动脉）的内皮细胞和平滑肌细胞中连接蛋白亚型表达相关的传导性血管收缩反应，相对于不受交感神经支配的微血管（仓鼠颊囊上皮）。补充实验将确定这些参数如何受到交感神经传递的急性改变的影响。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运输到组织的传导分子决定因素。了解连接蛋白表达和功能的这种调节将有助于治疗涉及间隙连接功能障碍的疾病。

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.