Vascular smooth muscle cell contraction and relaxation in the isolated aorta: a critical regulator of large artery compliance

Physiological Reports
Arthur J A LeloupPaul Fransen

Abstract

Over the past few decades, isometric contraction studies of isolated thoracic aorta segments have significantly contributed to our overall understanding of the active, contractile properties of aortic vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) and their cross-talk with endothelial cells. However, the physiological role of VSMC contraction or relaxation in the healthy aorta and its contribution to the pulse-smoothening capacity of the aorta is currently unclear. Therefore, we investigated the acute effects of VSMC contraction and relaxation on the isobaric biomechanical properties of healthy mouse aorta. An in-house developed set-up was used to measure isobaric stiffness parameters of periodically stretched (10 Hz) aortic segments at an extended pressure range, while pharmacologically modulating VSMC tone and endothelial cell function. We found that the effects of α1-adrenergic stimulation with phenylephrine on the pressure-stiffness relationship varied in sensitivity, magnitude and direction, with the basal, unstimulated NO production by the endothelium playing a pivotal role. We also investigated how arterial disease affected this system by using the angiotensin-II-treated mouse. Our results show that isobaric stiffness was increase...Continue Reading

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Citations

Jan 28, 2020·Expert Opinion on Therapeutic Targets·Dorien G De MunckWim Martinet
Apr 11, 2020·American Journal of Physiology. Heart and Circulatory Physiology·Arthur J A LeloupPaul Fransen
Jun 4, 2020·Pflügers Archiv : European journal of physiology·Dorien G De MunckPaul Fransen
Nov 9, 2021·Frontiers in Physiology·Cédric H G NeutelPieter-Jan Guns

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