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2 and endothelin
Departments of Pharmacology, University of Texas Health Science Center, San Antonio, Texas 78284; and University of Vermont, Burlington, Vermont 05405
Sympathetic nerves are purported to stimulate blood
vessel growth. The mechanism(s) underlying this stimulation has not
been determined. With use of an in vitro coculture model, the present study tests the hypothesis that sympathetic neurons stimulate the
growth of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) and evaluates potential mechanisms mediating this stimulation. Sympathetic neurons isolated from superior cervical ganglia (SCG) stimulated the growth of VSM.
Growth of VSM in the presence of SCG (856 ± 81%) was significantly greater than that in the absence of SCG (626 ± 66%,
P < 0.05). SCG did not stimulate VSM
growth in transwell cocultures. An antibody that neutralized the
activity of transforming growth factor-
2 (TGF-
2) inhibited SCG
stimulation of VSM growth in coculture. SCG stimulation of VSM growth
was also inhibited by an endothelin A receptor antagonist. These data
suggest novel mechanisms for sympathetic modulation of vascular growth
that may play a role in the physiological and/or pathological growth of
the vasculature.
blood vessels; sympathetic nervous system; growth factor; vascular
smooth muscle; transforming growth factor-
2
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