AJP - Heart Watch the video to learn how APS reaches out to developing nations.
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     

Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol 280: H160-H167, 2001;
0363-6135/01 $5.00
This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Right arrow Citation Map
Services
Right arrow Email this article to a friend
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in Web of Science
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Citing Articles
Right arrow Citing Articles via HighWire
Right arrow Citing Articles via Web of Science (54)
Right arrow Citing Articles via Google Scholar
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by Emerson, G. G.
Right arrow Articles by Segal, S. S.
Right arrow Search for Related Content
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by Emerson, G. G.
Right arrow Articles by Segal, S. S.
Vol. 280, Issue 1, H160-H167, January 2001

Electrical activation of endothelium evokes vasodilation and hyperpolarization along hamster feed arteries

Geoffrey G. Emerson and Steven S. Segal

The John B. Pierce Laboratory and Department of Cellular and Molecular Physiology, Yale University School of Medicine, New Haven, Connecticut 06519

Endothelial cells are considered electrically unexcitable. However, endothelium-dependent vasodilators (e.g., acetylcholine) often evoke hyperpolarization. We hypothesized that electrical stimulation of endothelial cells could evoke hyperpolarization and vasodilation. Feed artery segments (resting diameter: 63 ± 1 µm; length 3-4 mm) of the hamster retractor muscle were isolated and pressurized to 75 mmHg, and focal stimulation was performed via microelectrodes positioned across one end of the vessel. Stimulation at 16 Hz (30-50 V, 1-ms pulses, 5 s) evoked constriction (-20 ± 2 µm) that spread along the entire vessel via perivascular sympathetic nerves, as shown by inhibition with tetrodotoxin, omega -conotoxin, or phentolamine. In contrast, stimulation with direct current (30 V, 5 s) evoked vasodilation (16 ± 2 µm) and hyperpolarization (11 ± 1 mV) of endothelial and smooth muscle cells that conducted along the entire vessel. Conducted responses were insensitive to preceding treatments, atropine, or Nomega -nitro-L-arginine, yet were abolished by endothelial cell damage (with air). Injection of negative current (<= 1.6 nA) into a single endothelial cell reproduced vasodilator responses along the entire vessel. We conclude that, independent of ligand-receptor interactions, endothelial cell hyperpolarization evokes vasodilation that is readily conducted along the vessel wall. Moreover, electrical events originating within a single endothelial cell can drive the relaxation of smooth muscle cells throughout the entire vessel.

resistance arteries; endothelium; conduction


This article has been cited by other articles:


Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
R. L. McKinnon, M. L. Bolon, H.-X. Wang, S. Swarbreck, G. M. Kidder, A. M. Simon, and K. Tyml
Reduction of electrical coupling between microvascular endothelial cells by NO depends on connexin37
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, July 1, 2009; 297(1): H93 - H101.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
J. C. Frisbee, J. M. Hollander, R. W. Brock, H.-G. Yu, and M. A. Boegehold
Integration of skeletal muscle resistance arteriolar reactivity for perfusion responses in the metabolic syndrome
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, June 1, 2009; 296(6): R1771 - R1782.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Circ. Res.Home page
S. E. Wolfle, V. J. Schmidt, B. Hoepfl, A. Gebert, S. Alcolea, D. Gros, and C. de Wit
Connexin45 Cannot Replace the Function of Connexin40 in Conducting Endothelium-Dependent Dilations Along Arterioles
Circ. Res., December 7, 2007; 101(12): 1292 - 1299.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Lung Cell. Mol. Physiol.Home page
M. L. Paffett, J. S. Naik, T. C. Resta, and B. R. Walker
Reduced store-operated Ca2+ entry in pulmonary endothelial cells from chronically hypoxic rats
Am J Physiol Lung Cell Mol Physiol, November 1, 2007; 293(5): L1135 - L1142.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Regul. Integr. Comp. Physiol.Home page
S. E. Bearden, E. Linn, B. S. Ashley, and R. C. Looft-Wilson
Age-related changes in conducted vasodilation: effects of exercise training and role in functional hyperemia
Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, October 1, 2007; 293(4): R1717 - R1721.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
X. F. Figueroa, C.-C. Chen, K. P. Campbell, D. N. Damon, K. H. Day, S. Ramos, and B. R. Duling
Are voltage-dependent ion channels involved in the endothelial cell control of vasomotor tone?
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, September 1, 2007; 293(3): H1371 - H1383.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
M. L. Armstrong, A. K. Dua, and C. L. Murrant
Potassium initiates vasodilatation induced by a single skeletal muscle contraction in hamster cremaster muscle
J. Physiol., June 1, 2007; 581(2): 841 - 852.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
T. L. Domeier and S. S. Segal
Electromechanical and pharmacomechanical signalling pathways for conducted vasodilatation along endothelium of hamster feed arteries
J. Physiol., February 15, 2007; 579(1): 175 - 186.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Circ. Res.Home page
S. Mather, K. A. Dora, S. L. Sandow, P. Winter, and C. J. Garland
Rapid Endothelial Cell-Selective Loading of Connexin 40 Antibody Blocks Endothelium-Derived Hyperpolarizing Factor Dilation in Rat Small Mesenteric Arteries
Circ. Res., August 19, 2005; 97(4): 399 - 407.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
N. Thengchaisri and R. J. Rivers
Remote arteriolar dilations caused by methacholine: a role for CGRP sensory nerves?
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, August 1, 2005; 289(2): H608 - H613.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Circ. Res.Home page
A. Huang, D. Sun, A. Jacobson, M. A. Carroll, J. R. Falck, and G. Kaley
Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids Are Released to Mediate Shear Stress-Dependent Hyperpolarization of Arteriolar Smooth Muscle
Circ. Res., February 18, 2005; 96(3): 376 - 383.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
S. Earley, T. C. Resta, and B. R. Walker
Disruption of smooth muscle gap junctions attenuates myogenic vasoconstriction of mesenteric resistance arteries
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, December 1, 2004; 287(6): H2677 - H2686.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Endocrinol. Metab.Home page
C. M. Wheatley, S. Rattigan, S. M. Richards, E. J. Barrett, and M. G. Clark
Skeletal muscle contraction stimulates capillary recruitment and glucose uptake in insulin-resistant obese Zucker rats
Am J Physiol Endocrinol Metab, October 1, 2004; 287(4): E804 - E809.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
Y. Kansui, K. Fujii, K. Nakamura, K. Goto, H. Oniki, I. Abe, Y. Shibata, and M. Iida
Angiotensin II receptor blockade corrects altered expression of gap junctions in vascular endothelial cells from hypertensive rats
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, July 1, 2004; 287(1): H216 - H224.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Circ. Res.Home page
I. Fleming
Bobbing Along on the Crest of a Wave: NO Ascends Hamster Cheek Pouch Arterioles
Circ. Res., July 11, 2003; 93(1): 9 - 11.
[Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Circ. Res.Home page
X. F. Figueroa, D. L. Paul, A. M. Simon, D. A. Goodenough, K. H. Day, D. N. Damon, and B. R. Duling
Central Role of Connexin40 in the Propagation of Electrically Activated Vasodilation in Mouse Cremasteric Arterioles In Vivo
Circ. Res., April 18, 2003; 92(7): 793 - 800.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Physiol. GenomicsHome page
C. de Wit, F. Roos, S.-S. Bolz, and U. Pohl
Lack of vascular connexin 40 is associated with hypertension and irregular arteriolar vasomotion
Physiol Genomics, April 16, 2003; 13(2): 169 - 177.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
D. Merkus, D. J. Duncker, and W. M. Chilian
Metabolic regulation of coronary vascular tone: role of endothelin-1
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, November 1, 2002; 283(5): H1915 - H1921.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
B. Hoepfl, B. Rodenwaldt, U. Pohl, and C. de Wit
EDHF, but not NO or prostaglandins, is critical to evoke a conducted dilation upon ACh in hamster arterioles
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, September 1, 2002; 283(3): H996 - H1004.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol.Home page
G. G. Emerson, T. O. Neild, and S. S. Segal
Conduction of hyperpolarization along hamster feed arteries: augmentation by acetylcholine
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, July 1, 2002; 283(1): H102 - H109.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

Home page
 J. Physiol.Home page
S. S Segal and T. L Jacobs
Role for endothelial cell conduction in ascending vasodilatation and exercise hyperaemia in hamster skeletal muscle
J. Physiol., November 1, 2001; 536(3): 937 - 946.
[Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]


HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
Visit Other APS Journals Online