Regulatory mechanisms of arterial structure and function in humans

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Our blood vessels play an important role in transporting blood to, and from, all of the tissues of our body.  We can dramatically change the blood flow through many of our blood vessels when we increase, or decrease, our activity both for brief periods and when we make longer term lifestyle changes such as embarking on an exercise training program. Blood vessels are not just static tubes for transporting blood. In just a few heartbeats our arteries (the blood vessels that move blood away from our heart) can dilate to increase their size, and relax to reduce their stiffness, yet we do not know exactly what controls and influences these short- and long-term changes. In my laboratory, our long-term goal is to understand the role that exercise, and exercise training, plays in altering arterial structure and function. We now know, for example, that a single exercise session can either temporarily limit or enhance the dilation of some arteries. It seems that the effects of exercise are dependent on how well an artery can function when we are at rest and may be different in males and females. We are interested in following up some of our initial studies that examined both exercise training and single exercise sessions, with some studies to determine the precise factors that control the changes we have observed. We also want use some new and exciting ultrasound methods to look directly at the walls of the arteries and at the blood flow inside muscles and skin. The two main aims of this grant application are to determine the roles that mechanical stress on the wall of the artery plays in regulating the structure and function of the artery and to determine if these roles are different between males and females and influenced by biological sex hormones. To do this we have designed some studies to both increase blood flow in arteries in young healthy males and females, and look at the responses to those increases in blood flow in order to determine control factors. Our continuing studies will focus on the use of cutting-edge technology in scientific experiments that encourage the development and training of the next generation of Canadian scientists in a diverse and inclusive environment. The information gained from these studies will assist in advancing the current basic knowledge of the how blood vessels are regulated in the human body.