|
|
||||||||
Departments of 1 Health and Kinesiology and 2 Medical Physiology and Cardiovascular Research Institute, Texas A&M University, College Station, Texas 77843
| |
ABSTRACT |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Hindlimb unloading of rats results in a diminished ability of skeletal muscle arterioles to constrict in vitro and elevate vascular resistance in vivo. The purpose of the present study was to determine whether alterations in the mechanical environment (i.e., reduced fluid pressure and blood flow) of the vasculature in hindlimb skeletal muscles from 2-wk hindlimb-unloaded (HU) rats induces a structural remodeling of arterial microvessels that may account for these observations. Transverse cross sections were used to determine media cross-sectional area (CSA), wall thickness, outer perimeter, number of media nuclei, and vessel luminal diameter of feed arteries and first-order (1A) arterioles from soleus and the superficial portion of gastrocnemius muscles. Endothelium-dependent dilation (ACh) was also determined. Media CSA of resistance arteries was diminished by hindlimb unloading as a result of decreased media thickness (gastrocnemius muscle) or reduced vessel diameter (soleus muscle). ACh-induced dilation was diminished by 2 wk of hindlimb unloading in soleus 1A arterioles, but not in gastrocnemius 1A arterioles. These results indicate that structural remodeling and functional adaptations of the arterial microvasculature occur in skeletal muscles of the HU rat; the data suggest that these alterations may be induced by reductions in transmural pressure (gastrocnemius muscle) and wall shear stress (soleus muscle).
acetylcholine; arteriole; endothelium; shear stress; smooth muscle
| |
INTRODUCTION |
|---|
|
|
|---|
THE HUMAN BODY is exquisitely adapted for maintaining an upright posture on Earth. However, when the force of gravity is removed during spaceflight, there is a cephalic fluid shift and an elimination of the head-to-foot hydrostatic pressure gradient (34, 36). This change in the fluid pressure distribution has been hypothesized to trigger adaptations within the cardiovascular system that are subsequently rendered inappropriate on return to the Earth's gravitational environment (36). These microgravity-induced alterations of the cardiovascular system are primarily manifested as a diminished aerobic capacity (30, 36) and orthostatic intolerance (36). Although several factors clearly contribute to the postflight orthostatic intolerance (36), one of the most prominent is orthostatic hypotension and a corresponding inability to elevate peripheral vascular resistance (2, 22). Whether this compromised ability to raise peripheral vascular resistance results from alterations in neurally mediated vascular tone, a diminished ability of resistance arteries to constrict, or a combination of the two remains to be determined.
To study these phenomena on Earth, the tail-suspended hindlimb-unloaded (HU) rat has been used to simulate the effects of microgravity. This model induces the cephalic fluid shift (10, 19, 28) and postural muscle unloading (24) that occur in microgravity. Additionally, the HU animals manifest many of the adaptations that are characteristic of exposure to microgravity, including postural muscle atrophy (24), hypovolemia (23, 32), a diminished capacity to elevate vascular resistance (20, 26, 38), orthostatic hypotension (18), and a reduced aerobic capacity (7, 27). Previous work with conduit arteries (5, 29) and skeletal muscle arterioles (4) from HU rats indicates that at least part of the inability to elevate vascular resistance results from a blunting of myogenic autoregulation and a diminished responsiveness to vasoconstrictor stimuli. The attenuated vasoconstrictor responsiveness was not due to alterations in the receptor-second messenger signal transduction mechanism but was hypothesized to result from smooth muscle atrophy or hypoplasia and the corresponding loss of contractile proteins (4, 5). In addition, reductions in myogenic and vasoconstrictor reactivity did not occur in arterioles isolated from postural muscles of the hindlimb, such as the soleus muscle, indicating that several factors may be involved in initiating adaptations in the skeletal muscle vasculature (4). Therefore, the purpose of the present study was to test the hypothesis that alterations in the mechanical environment of arterial microvessels, i.e., reduced fluid pressure and blood flow, induce a structural remodeling of the resistance vasculature in hindlimb skeletal muscles from HU rats and correspondingly alter the endothelium-dependent dilatory properties of these vessels.
| |
METHODS |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Animals. All procedures performed in this study were approved by the Texas A&M University Institutional Animal Care and Use Committee and conform to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals [DHHS Publication No. (NIH) 85-23, Revised 1985, Office of Science and Health Reports, Bethesda, MD 20892].
Thirty-seven male Sprague-Dawley rats weighing ~350 g were randomly assigned to either HU or cage control groups. The HU animals were placed in a head-down position by elevating the hindlimbs to an approximate spinal angle of 40-45° from horizontal. This was done with a harness attached to the tail as previously described (4, 5). Briefly, a harness consisting of curved, molded plastic cast (X-Lite splint material; AOA/Kirschner) was placed around the wrapped (Co-Flex bandage, Andover) proximal two-thirds of the animal's tail. Moleskin adhesive material was placed as contact points between the tail skin and the cast to allow for adequate blood flow. Two hooks attached to opposite ends of the cast were connected by a small chain to a swivel apparatus fixed at the top of the cage. The length of the chain was adjusted to prevent the hindlimbs of the animal from touching any supportive surfaces while the forelimbs maintained contact with the cage floor. This allowed the animal free range of movement about the cage. Control animals were individually housed and maintained in a normal cage environment. Both groups were kept in their respective condition for 2 wk. This time period has been shown to be sufficient to induce cephalic fluid shifts (10, 19, 28) and produce cardiovascular alterations in HU animals (4, 7, 18, 20, 23, 26, 27, 38). After the experimental period, HU and control animals were weighed and injected with pentobarbital sodium (30 mg/kg ip) to induce deep anesthesia without allowing the hindlimbs of HU rats to become weight bearing. The animals were then decapitated, and the gastrocnemius-plantaris-soleus and triceps brachii muscle groups were carefully dissected free and placed in a 4°C filtered physiological saline solution (PSS) buffer (in mM: 145 NaCl, 4.7 KCl, 1.2 NaH2PO4, 1.17 MgSO4, 2.0 CaCl2, 5.0 glucose, 2.0 pyruvate, 0.02 EDTA, and 3.0 MOPS; pH 7.4).Microvessel preparation. Using a stereomicroscope, we identified and isolated the feed arteries leading to the forelimb triceps brachii muscle and the hindlimb superficial portion of gastrocnemius and soleus muscles. At the point where a branch from the hindlimb feed arteries entered the muscle, muscle fibers surrounding the branch were carefully dissected away and a first-order (1A) arteriole was isolated. Isolated feed arteries and 1A arterioles were transferred to a Lucite vessel chamber containing PSS. One end of the resistance artery was cannulated with a glass micropipette filled with filtered PSS-albumin solution (1 g of BSA per 100 ml) and tied securely to the pipette with 11-0 ophthalmic suture. The other end of each vessel was cannulated with a second micropipette and secured with suture.
Histomorphometry.
In the first set of animals (HU, n = 8; control, n = 8), intraluminal pressure in the isolated feed arteries and 1A
arterioles was set at 60 cmH2O, and
10
4 M sodium nitroprusside was added to
the vessel chamber. The addition of nitroprusside was used as a
precautionary measure to ensure that these vessels did not develop
spontaneous tone. In our experience, isolated skeletal muscle
arterioles do not develop spontaneous tone unless they are warmed to
37°C for 30-60 min. Thus the resistance arteries used for
histomorphometric analysis were considered maximally dilated. After a
15-min equilibration period with 10
4 M
nitroprusside at room temperature, the vessels were fixed with paraformaldehyde, stained with eosin, and embedded in paraffin.
Shear stress determination.
The internal radius (r, considered to be maximum or
rmax) of the feed arteries was calculated from the
media inner perimeter measurement. Wall shear stress (
) was then
calculated for three conditions (standing and after 10 min and 2 wk of
hindlimb unloading) using Eq. 1
|
(1) |
is the blood viscosity (0.035 Poise) (17) and
is the blood flow rate through the vessel.
during
the three conditions was derived by dividing previously published (20) total blood flow (ml/min) to gastrocnemius (summed flows to red, white,
and mixed portions) and soleus muscles by the number of feed arteries
leading to the muscles (2 feed arteries to gastrocnemius muscle and
3-5 feed arteries to soleus muscle in control and HU rats). To
calculate shear stress in each of the three conditions, it was
necessary to consider the relative state of the artery in vivo during
standing and after 10 min and 2 wk of hindlimb unloading. The r
for soleus feed artery during standing was considered to be equivalent
to rmax because the soleus muscle is actively recruited in maintaining posture and, correspondingly, the soleus muscle vascular conductance can approach near maximal levels during standing (16). However, because the soleus muscle is quiescent during
the two unloaded conditions, and the superficial and middle portions of
the gastrocnemius muscle are inactive during each of the three
conditions (13, 16, 24), r was adjusted to reflect the amount
of intrinsic tone these vessels develop in vitro (Ref. 4 and present
study). Soleus feed artery r was estimated to be 70% of
rmax with 10 min of hindlimb unloading because
control soleus vessels develop ~30% spontaneous tone (Ref. 4 and
present study). Soleus feed artery r after 2 wk of hindlimb unloading was assumed to be 65% of rmax because
soleus vessels from 2-wk HU rats develop ~35% spontaneous tone. The
r for the superficial gastrocnemius feed arteries during
standing and 10 min of hindlimb unloading was estimated to be ~65%
of rmax, and after 2 wk of hindlimb unloading, it
was assumed to be ~80% of rmax.
In vitro studies.
In a second set of animals (HU, n = 8; control, n = 7),
isolated 1A arterioles from soleus and gastrocnemius muscles were transferred to a Lucite vessel chamber containing PSS and cannulated as
described in Microvessel preparation. After
cannulation, each isolated vessel in the tissue chamber was transferred
to the stage of an inverted microscope (Olympus IX70) coupled to a
video camera (Panasonic BP310), video micrometer (Microcirculation
Research Institute, Texas A&M University), video recorder (Panasonic
AG-1300), and data-acquisition system (Macintosh/MacLab). Intraluminal
pressure was set at 60 cmH2O, and the vessels were allowed
to equilibrate for 1 h at 37°C before endothelium-dependent
vasodilation was characterized; the bathing solution was replaced every
15 min during the equilibration period. Internal diameter was
continuously measured throughout the experiment with the use of
videomicroscopic techniques (4, 8). To assess endothelium-dependent
vasodilation, we determined concentration-response relationships to the
cumulative addition of ACh
(10
9-10
4 M).
9-10
4
M) manner.
Data analysis. Student's t-tests were used to determine the significance of differences in the morphological parameters of resistance arteries, body mass, soleus muscle mass, and the soleus muscle-to-body mass ratio between control and HU groups. A one-way ANOVA was used to compare wall shear stress during standing and after 10 min and 2 wk of hindlimb unloading. The Student-Newman-Keuls method was used as a post hoc test to determine the significance of differences among means. ACh concentration-response curves were evaluated using repeated-measures ANOVA with one within-treatment (ACh concentration) and one between-treatment (experimental groups) factor. Planned contrasts were conducted at each molar concentration level to determine whether differences existed among groups. All values are presented as means ± SE. A P < 0.05 was required for significance.
| |
RESULTS |
|---|
|
|
|---|
Body and soleus muscle mass. Body mass of control rats (436 ± 12 g) tended to be greater than that of 2-wk HU (407 ± 7 g) and 4-wk HU rats (418 ± 9 g) (P = 0.071). Hindlimb unloading reduced soleus muscle mass of HU rats (2-wk HU: 148 ± 7 mg; 4-wk HU: 127 ± 6 mg) relative to control soleus muscle mass (230 ± 9 mg). Similarly, the soleus-to-body mass ratio of 2-wk (0.362 ± 0.015 mg/g) and 4-wk HU rats (0.305 ± 0.007 mg/g) was lower than that of control rats (0.530 ± 0.023 mg/g). Soleus muscle atrophy, which is characteristic of reduced skeletal muscle weight-bearing activity, confirms the effectiveness of the hindlimb unloading intervention.
Vessel morphology.
Hindlimb unloading elicited structural adaptations in resistance
arteries that differed for each of the three skeletal muscles studied.
However, the pattern of adaptation induced in feed arteries and 1A
arterioles was similar within the same muscle (Figs.
1 and 2). In
the forelimb triceps muscle, unloading resulted in a tendency
(P = 0.064) for the media CSA of the feed artery to increase
(Fig. 3). This apparent increase in media
CSA resulted from a significant increase in vessel diameter (control:
140 ± 27 µm; HU: 212 ± 25 µm), no change in media wall
thickness (Fig. 4), and a
tendency for media outer perimeter (Fig.
5) to increase (P = 0.086). Hindlimb unloading did not induce a change in the number of nuclei in the media (control: 60 ± 4 nuclei; HU: 54 ± 6 nuclei) in the triceps muscle feed artery.
|
|
|
|
|
Shear stress.
Acute (10 min) or chronic (2 wk) hindlimb unloading (Fig.
6) did not significantly alter calculated
wall shear stress in gastrocnemius muscle feed artery during standing.
However, in soleus muscle feed artery, acute unloading diminished shear
stress relative to that occurring during control standing. By 2 wk of
hindlimb unloading, shear stress returned to levels similar to that
during standing.
|
ACh-induced dilation.
Vasodilation induced by ACh was unaltered by HU in arterioles from the
gastrocnemius muscle (Fig. 7). In contrast,
2-wk HU, but not 4-wk HU, diminished ACh-induced dilation in soleus
muscle arterioles (Fig. 8).
|
|
| |
DISCUSSION |
|---|
|
|
|---|
The primary purpose of the present study was to determine whether the reduction of hydrostatic fluid pressure in the hindlimbs of tail-suspended rats and reductions in muscle blood flow would induce a structural remodeling of the resistance vasculature in skeletal muscle. The results demonstrate that the media CSA of feed arteries and 1A arterioles from both gastrocnemius and soleus muscles is diminished by hindlimb unloading (Figs. 1-3), whereas the media CSA of the feed artery from the forelimb triceps brachii muscle is unaltered (Fig. 3). The decrease in media CSA appears to be due to smooth muscle cell atrophy, as indicated by the decreased CSA without a change in the number of media nuclei. The reduction in media CSA of resistance arteries from gastrocnemius muscle resulted from a decrease in media thickness (Figs. 1 and 4), whereas the reduction in media CSA of resistance arteries from soleus muscle resulted from a decrease in the media outer perimeter (Figs. 2 and 5) and vessel diameter.
Two primary mechanical forces are thought to act on the vasculature to induce structural adaptations: 1) the shear stress that arises from the blood acting on endothelial cells, and 2) the stress and strains that cause deformations within the artery wall (13, 14). Calculated shear stress in the arteries from gastrocnemius muscle during both acute and chronic hindlimb unloading was not different from that during standing (Fig. 6). Thus it does not appear that changes in shear stress stimulate the media thinning that occurs in gastrocnemius resistance arteries with hindlimb unloading. However, elevation of the hindlimbs during the unloading procedure produces a reduction in transmural pressure within the hindlimb arterial vasculature by inducing a cephalic fluid shift and increasing diuresis (10, 19, 23, 28). In addition, increases in central blood volume engage cardiopulmonary receptors and elicit reflexive decreases in efferent sympathetic nerve activity (35). Thus the reduction in transmural pressure and a putative attenuation of sympathetic nerve activity may diminish both myogenic and sympathetically mediated smooth muscle contractile activity in resistance arteries from gastrocnemius muscle. The data suggest that the persistent decrease in vasomotor tone is an adequate stimulus to induce a structural remodeling of the feed artery and 1A arteriole. The remodeling does not involve a change in vessel diameter but rather consists of a decrease in media thickness that appears to occur as a result of radial atrophy of smooth muscle cells (i.e., a decrease in smooth muscle cell thickness). This type of vascular adaptation is in fact the inverse of that reported to occur with hypertension (9) and hindlimb unloading in cerebral (basilar) resistance arteries (37), where increases in transmural pressure elevate the circumferential stress within the arterial wall. The elevation of circumferential stress leads to radial hypertrophy of smooth muscle cells and increased media wall thickness (9, 11, 25, 37).
The same decrease in vasomotor tone may not occur in resistance
arteries from soleus muscle. For example, soleus muscle is actively
recruited in the conscious standing rat and receives a relatively
constant perfusion of 70-140
ml · min
1 · 100 g
1 (16, 20). When hindlimb unloading
eliminates the weight-bearing activity of soleus muscle, blood flow
immediately decreases to
10
ml · min
1 · 100 g
1 (20). Although the diminished
intravascular fluid pressure resulting from the elevation of the
hindlimbs would tend to induce myogenic relaxation (4, 6, 21), this
effect is presumably offset in soleus muscle by a reduction in
vasodilatory metabolite release when the muscle becomes unloaded (6,
20). In other words, we speculate that the soleus muscle resistance
vasculature goes from a metabolite-induced relaxed state during
standing to a myogenic-induced relaxed state during unloading. Thus the
circumferential stress within the wall of soleus muscle resistance
arteries may not be greatly altered by hindlimb unloading and,
therefore, would not appear to be the stimulus for structural
adaptation in these vessels. Rather, it appears that the chronic
decrease in blood flow to soleus muscle may provide the stimulus for
adaptation. Acute unloading of the hindlimb reduces calculated shear
stress in the feed arteries from soleus muscle (Fig. 6). Although blood flow to soleus muscle remains low through 2 wk of unloading (20), the
estimated decrease in shear stress appears to be normalized to
presuspension levels by a structural reduction in vessel diameter. The
data suggest that this decrease in diameter is the result of
circumferential atrophy of smooth muscle cells (i.e., a decrease in
smooth muscle cell length), because the outer media perimeter is
decreased and media thickness is unaltered.
Previous investigators have demonstrated that sustained reductions in
blood flow for
2 wk through large conduit arteries of rabbits (1, 14,
15) and dogs (12) reduce vessel diameter without altering media wall
thickness. This process was shown to be endothelium dependent and
serves to restore vessel wall shear stress (1, 12, 14, 15). The present
study demonstrates that a similar remodeling can also occur in the
arterial microvasculature to maintain relatively constant levels of
shear stress. In addition, data from the present study suggest that
reductions in shear stress precede the diminution of
endothelium-dependent dilation in skeletal muscle arterioles and that
the structural remodeling that occurs to normalize shear stress
precedes the normalization of endothelium-dependent dilation.
The functional consequences of changing the structure of resistance arteries are profound. For example, the thinning of the medial layer of resistance arteries from the superficial portion of the gastrocnemius muscle results in the blunting of myogenic autoregulation and a diminished responsiveness of these vessels to vasoconstrictor stimuli (4). These adaptations to hindlimb suspension undoubtedly contribute to the diminished ability to elevate vascular resistance in other hindlimb muscles that have activity levels or fiber composition similar to that of the superficial gastrocnemius muscle (20). Furthermore, the decrement in myogenic and vasoconstrictor responsiveness of resistance arteries and arterioles is consistent with the inability of HU rats to maintain arterial pressure during an acute orthostatic challenge (90° head-up tilt) (18).
Although the structural remodeling that occurs in soleus muscle resistance arteries does not affect vascular responsiveness to vasoconstrictor stimuli (4), the reduction in vessel diameter and endothelium-dependent vasodilation does appear to have important functional consequences. After a 2-wk period of unloading, blood flow to rat soleus muscle is reduced both at rest and during exercise (20, 38). This reduction in the blood flow capacity in soleus and other highly oxidative muscles presumably results, at least in part, from the reduction in intraluminal CSA of resistance arteries and perhaps the temporary decrease in endothelium-mediated dilation. Furthermore, the reduction in blood flow to highly oxidative muscles coupled with the elevation in perfusion of low oxidative skeletal muscles results in a less precise matching of oxygen delivery to muscle oxidative capacity (20). McDonald and colleagues (20) and others (27) have hypothesized that this alteration in blood flow distribution within the hindlimb musculature contributes to the reduced aerobic capacity of these animals. This hypothesis is consistent with alterations that occur following exercise training, where blood flow is elevated to highly oxidative muscles and reduced to low oxidative muscles, resulting in a more precise matching of oxygen delivery to oxidative capacity and a corresponding increase in maximal oxygen consumption (3).
In conclusion, the present study demonstrates that structural and functional remodeling of the arterial microvasculature occurs in skeletal muscles of the HU rat, apparently as a result of reductions in transmural pressure and wall shear stress. Reductions in transmural pressure appear to induce radial atrophy of smooth muscle cells that results in the thinning of the medial layer (Figs. 1 and 4) with no change in vessel diameter. Reductions in wall shear stress appear to induce 1) circumferential atrophy of smooth muscle cells, resulting in a reduction in vessel diameter with no change in media thickness (Figs. 2 and 4), and 2) reductions in endothelium-dependent dilation (Fig. 8). Furthermore, estimates of wall shear stress suggest that the reduction in vessel diameter serves to normalize intraluminal shear stress (Fig. 6) and subsequently restore endothelium-dependent dilation (Fig. 8). It is possible that the altered fluid pressure gradients and the unloading of postural muscles that occur in humans residing in space or during prolonged bed rest may also induce similar changes in the mechanical forces acting on the resistance arteries. If this does occur, then arterial vascular remodeling may underlie the compromised ability to elevate peripheral vascular resistance that leads to orthostatic hypotension (2, 22, 33) and the decrements in maximal aerobic power (30, 31) in humans.
| |
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS |
|---|
This study was supported by National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) Grants NAGW-4842 and NAG5-3754 (to M. D. Delp), National Space and Biomedical Research Institute Grant NCC9-58-H (to M. D. Delp), and two NASA Space Physiology Research Grants awarded through the American College of Sports Medicine Foundation (to P. N. Colleran and M. K. Wilkerson).
| |
FOOTNOTES |
|---|
The costs of publication of this article were defrayed in part by the payment of page charges. The article must therefore be hereby marked "advertisement" in accordance with 18 U.S.C. §1734 solely to indicate this fact.
Address for reprint requests and other correspondence: M. D. Delp, College of Education, Dept. of Health and Kinesiology, Texas A&M University, College Station, TX 77845 (E-mail: mdd{at}hlkn.tamu.edu).
Received 11 August 1999; accepted in final form 7 December 1999.
| |
REFERENCES |
|---|
|
|
|---|
1.
Brownlee, RD,
and
Langille BL.
Arterial adaptations to altered blood flow.
Can J Physiol Pharmacol
69:
978-983,
1991[Web of Science][Medline].
2.
Buckey, JC,
Lane LD,
Levine BD,
Watenpaugh DE,
Wright SJ,
Moore WE,
Gaffney FA,
and
Blomqvist CG.
Orthostatic intolerance after spaceflight.
J Appl Physiol
81:
7-18,
1996
3.
Delp, MD.
Differential effects of training on the control of skeletal muscle perfusion.
Med Sci Sports Exerc
30:
361-374,
1998[Web of Science][Medline].
4.
Delp, MD.
Myogenic and vasoconstrictor responsiveness of skeletal muscle arterioles is diminished by hindlimb unloading.
J Appl Physiol
86:
1178-1184,
1999
5.
Delp, MD,
Holder-Binkley T,
Laughlin MH,
and
Hasser EM.
Vasoconstrictor properties of rat aorta are diminished by hindlimb unweighting.
J Appl Physiol
75:
2620-2628,
1993
6.
Delp, MD,
and
Laughlin MH.
Regulation of skeletal muscle perfusion during exercise.
Acta Physiol Scand
162:
411-419,
1998[Web of Science][Medline].
7.
Desplanches, D,
Mayet MH,
Semporé B,
Frutoso J,
and
Flandrois R.
Effect of spontaneous recovery or retraining after hindlimb suspension on aerobic capacity.
J Appl Physiol
63:
1739-1743,
1987
8.
Falcone, JC,
Davis MJ,
and
Meininger GA.
Endothelial independence of myogenic response in isolated skeletal muscle arterioles.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol
260:
H130-H135,
1991
9.
Folkow, B.
The haemodynamic consequences of adaptive structural changes of the resistance vessels in hypertension.
Clin Sci
41:
1-12,
1971[Web of Science][Medline].
10.
Hargens, AR,
Steakai J,
Johansson C,
and
Tipton CM.
Tissue fluid shift, forelimb loading, and tail tension in tail-suspended rats.
Physiologist
27, Suppl:
S37-S38,
1984.
11.
Hart, MN,
Heistad DD,
and
Brody MJ.
Effect of chronic hypertension on wall/lumen ratio of cerebral vessels.
Hypertension
2:
419-423,
1980
12.
Kamiya, A,
and
Togawa T.
Adaptive regulation of wall shear stress to flow change in the canine carotid artery.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol
239:
H14-H21,
1980
13.
Ku, DN,
and
Zhu C.
The mechanical environment of the artery.
In: Hemodynamic Forces and Vascular Cell Biology, edited by Sumpio BE.. Austin, TX: Landes, 1993, p. 1-23.
14.
Langille, BL.
Remodeling of developing and mature arteries: endothelium, smooth muscle, and matrix.
J Cardiovasc Pharmacol
21, Suppl:
S11-S17,
1993.
15.
Langille, BL,
and
O'Donnell F.
Reductions in arterial diameter produced by chronic decreases in blood flow are endothelium-dependent.
Science
231:
405-407,
1986
16.
Laughlin, MH,
and
Armstrong RB.
Muscular blood flow distribution patterns as a function of running speed in rats.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol
243:
H296-H306,
1982
17.
Lipowsky, HH.
Shear stress in the circulation.
In: Flow-Dependent Regulation of Vascular Function, edited by Belvan JA,
Kaley G,
and Rubanyi GM.. New York: Oxford Univ. Press, 1995, p. 28-45.
18.
Martel, E,
Champeroux P,
Lacolley P,
Richard S,
Safar M,
and
Cuche JL.
Central hypervolemia in the conscious rat: a model of cardiovascular deconditioning.
J Appl Physiol
80:
1390-1396,
1996
19.
Maurel, D,
Ixart G,
Barbanel G,
Mekaouche M,
and
Assenmacher I.
Effects of acute tilt from orthostatic to head-down antiorthostatic restraint and of sustained restraint on the intra-cerebroventricular pressure in rats.
Brain Res
736:
165-173,
1996[Web of Science][Medline].
20.
McDonald, KS,
Delp MD,
and
Fitts RH.
Effect of hindlimb unweighting on tissue blood flow in the rat.
J Appl Physiol
72:
2210-2218,
1992
21.
Meininger, GA,
and
Davis MJ.
Cellular mechanisms involved in the vascular myogenic response.
Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol
263:
H647-H659,
1992
22.
Mulvagh, SL,
Charles JB,
Riddle JM,
Rehbein TL,
and
Bungo MW.
Echocardiographic evaluation of the cardiovascular effects of short duration space flight.
J Clin Pharmacol
31:
1024-1026,
1991[Web of Science][Medline].
23.
Musacchia, XJ,
Deavers DR,
and
Meininger GA.
Fluid/electrolyte balance and cardiovascular responses: head-down tilted rats.
Physiologist
33, Suppl:
S47,
1990.
24.
Musacchia, XJ,
Steffen JM,
Fell RD,
and
Dombrowski MJ.
Skeletal muscle response to spaceflight, whole body suspension, and recovery in rats.
J Appl Physiol
69:
2248-2253,
1990
25.
Nordborg, C,
and
Johansson BB.
Morphometric study on cerebral vessels in spontaneously hypertensive rats.
Stroke
11:
266-270,
1980
26.
Overton, JM,
and
Tipton CM.
Effect of hindlimb suspension on cardiovascular responses to sympathomimetics and lower body negative pressure.
J Appl Physiol
68:
355-362,
1990
27.
Overton, JM,
Woodman CR,
and
Tipton CM.
Effect of hindlimb suspension on
O2 max and regional blood flow responses to exercise.
J Appl Physiol
66:
653-659,
1989
28.
Provost, SB,
and
Tucker BJ.
Effect of 14 day head-down tilt on renal function and vascular and extracellular fluid volumes in the conscious rat.
Physiologist
35, Suppl:
S105-S106,
1992[Medline].
29.
Purdy, RE,
Duckles SP,
Krause DN,
Rubera KM,
and
Sara D.
Effects of simulated microgravity on vascular contractility.
J Appl Physiol
85:
1307-1315,
1998
30.
Rummel, JA,
Michel EL,
and
Berry CA.
Physiological response to exercise after space flight
Apollo 7 to Apollo 11.
Aerospace Med
44:
235-238,
1973[Medline].
31.
Saltin, B,
Blomqvist G,
Mitchell JH,
Johnson RL, Jr,
Wildenthal K,
and
Chapman CB.
Response to exercise after bed rest and after training. A longitudinal study of adaptive changes in oxygen transport and body composition.
Circulation
7, Suppl:
1-78,
1968.
32.
Shellock, FG,
Swan HJC,
and
Rubin SA.
Early central venous pressure changes in the rat during two different levels of head-down suspension.
Aviat Space Environ Med
56:
791-795,
1985[Medline].
33.
Shoemaker, JK,
Hogeman CS,
Silber DH,
Gray K,
Herr M,
and
Sinoway LI.
Head-down-tilt bed rest alters forearm vasodilator and vasoconstrictor responses.
J Appl Physiol
84:
1756-1762,
1998
34.
Thornton, WE,
Moore TP,
and
Pool SL.
Fluid shifts in weightlessness.
Aviat Space Environ Med
58, Suppl:
A86-A90,
1987[Medline].
35.
Vissing, SF,
Scherrer U,
and
Victor RG.
Relation between sympathetic outflow and vascular resistance in the calf during perturbations in central venous pressure. Evidence for cardiopulmonary afferent regulation of calf vascular resistance in humans.
Circ Res
65:
1710-1717,
1989
36.
Watenpaugh, DE,
and
Hargens AR.
The cardiovascular system in microgravity.
In: Handbook of Physiology. Environmental Physiology. Bethesda, MD: Am. Physiol. Soc, 1996, sect. 4, vol. 1, chapt. 29, p. 631-674.
37.
Wilkerson, MK,
Muller-Delp J,
Colleran PN,
and
Delp MD.
Effects of hindlimb unloading on rat cerebral, splenic, and mesenteric resistance artery morphology.
J Appl Physiol
87:
2115-2121,
1999
38.
Woodman, CR,
Sebastian LA,
and
Tipton CM.
Influence of simulated microgravity on cardiac output and blood flow distribution during exercise.
J Appl Physiol
79:
1762-1768,
1995
This article has been cited by other articles:
![]() |
S. M. Summers, Y. Hayashi, S. V. Nguyen, T. M. Nguyen, and R. E. Purdy Hindlimb unweighting induces changes in the p38MAPK contractile pathway of the rat abdominal aorta J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2009; 107(1): 121 - 127. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Zhang, Y.-G. Bai, L.-J. Lin, J.-X. Bao, Y.-Y. Zhang, H. Tang, J.-H. Cheng, G.-L. Jia, X.-L. Ren, and J. Ma Blockade of AT1 receptor partially restores vasoreactivity, NOS expression, and superoxide levels in cerebral and carotid arteries of hindlimb unweighting rats J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2009; 106(1): 251 - 258. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. Arbeille, P. Kerbeci, L. Mattar, J. K. Shoemaker, and R. Hughson Insufficient flow reduction during LBNP in both splanchnic and lower limb areas is associated with orthostatic intolerance after bedrest Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, November 1, 2008; 295(5): H1846 - H1854. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L.-F. Zhang, J.-H. Cheng, X. Liu, S. Wang, Y. Liu, H.-B. Lu, and J. Ma Cardiovascular changes of conscious rats after simulated microgravity with and without daily -Gx gravitation J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2008; 105(4): 1134 - 1145. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
O. Eiken, R. Kolegard, and I. B. Mekjavic Pressure-distension relationship in arteries and arterioles in response to 5 wk of horizontal bedrest Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, September 1, 2008; 295(3): H1296 - H1302. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. J. Behnke, D. C. Zawieja, A. A. Gashev, C. A. Ray, and M. D. Delp Diminished mesenteric vaso- and venoconstriction and elevated plasma ANP and BNP with simulated microgravity J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2008; 104(5): 1273 - 1280. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. D. Delp Unraveling the complex web of impaired wound healing with mechanical unloading and physical deconditioning J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2008; 104(5): 1262 - 1263. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. N. Colleran, B. J. Behnke, M. K. Wilkerson, A. J. Donato, and M. D. Delp Simulated microgravity alters rat mesenteric artery vasoconstrictor dynamics through an intracellular Ca2+ release mechanism Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, May 1, 2008; 294(5): R1577 - R1585. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. A. Ray New insights into orthostatic hypotension Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, May 1, 2008; 294(5): R1575 - R1576. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. Arbeille, P. Kerbeci, L. Mattar, J. K. Shoemaker, and R. L. Hughson WISE-2005: tibial and gastrocnemius vein and calf tissue response to LBNP after a 60-day bed rest with and without countermeasures J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2008; 104(4): 938 - 943. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J.-H. Xue, L.-F. Zhang, J. Ma, and M.-J. Xie Differential regulation of L-type Ca2+ channels in cerebral and mesenteric arteries after simulated microgravity in rats and its intervention by standing Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, July 1, 2007; 293(1): H691 - H701. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. Hwang, S. A. Shelkovnikov, and R. E. Purdy Simulated microgravity effects on the rat carotid and femoral arteries: role of contractile protein expression and mechanical properties of the vessel wall J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2007; 102(4): 1595 - 1603. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. J. Behnke, R. D. Prisby, L. A. Lesniewski, A. J. Donato, H. M. Olin, and M. D. Delp Influence of ageing and physical activity on vascular morphology in rat skeletal muscle J. Physiol., September 1, 2006; 575(2): 617 - 626. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. D. Prisby, M. K. Wilkerson, E. M. Sokoya, R. M. Bryan Jr., E. Wilson, and M. D. Delp Endothelium-dependent vasodilation of cerebral arteries is altered with simulated microgravity through nitric oxide synthase and EDHF mechanisms J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2006; 101(1): 348 - 353. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M.-J. Xie, L.-F. Zhang, J. Ma, and H.-W. Cheng Functional alterations in cerebrovascular K+ and Ca2+ channels are comparable between simulated microgravity rat and SHR Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, September 1, 2005; 289(3): H1265 - H1276. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. S. Jung, R. Harrison, K. H. Lee, J. Genut, D. Nyhan, E. M. Brooks-Asplund, A. A. Shoukas, J. M. Hare, and D. E. Berkowitz Simulated microgravity produces attenuated baroreflex-mediated pressor, chronotropic, and inotropic responses in mice Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, August 1, 2005; 289(2): H600 - H607. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. J. Mueller, C. M. Foley, and E. M. Hasser Hindlimb unloading alters nitric oxide and autonomic control of resting arterial pressure in conscious rats Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, July 1, 2005; 289(1): R140 - R147. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. W. P. Bleeker, M. Kooijman, G. A. Rongen, M. T. E. Hopman, and P. Smits Preserved contribution of nitric oxide to baseline vascular tone in deconditioned human skeletal muscle J. Physiol., June 1, 2005; 565(2): 685 - 694. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Gisolf, R. V. Immink, J. J. van Lieshout, W. J. Stok, and J. M. Karemaker Orthostatic blood pressure control before and after spaceflight, determined by time-domain baroreflex method J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2005; 98(5): 1682 - 1690. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. K. Wilkerson, L. A. Lesniewski, E. M. Golding, R. M. Bryan Jr., A. Amin, E. Wilson, and M. D. Delp Simulated microgravity enhances cerebral artery vasoconstriction and vascular resistance through endothelial nitric oxide mechanism Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, April 1, 2005; 288(4): H1652 - H1661. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. Coats and R. Wadsworth Marriage of resistance and conduit arteries breeds critical limb ischemia Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, March 1, 2005; 288(3): H1044 - H1050. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. N. Proctor, K. U. Le, and S. J. Ridout Age and regional specificity of peak limb vascular conductance in men J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2005; 98(1): 193 - 202. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
E. Belin de Chantemele, L. Pascaud, M.-A. Custaud, A. Capri, F. Louisy, G. Ferretti, C. Gharib, and P. Arbeille Calf venous volume during stand-test after a 90-day bed-rest study with or without exercise countermeasure J. Physiol., December 1, 2004; 561(2): 611 - 622. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L.-F. Zhang, A. Papadopoulos, and M. D. Delp Vascular adaptation to microgravity J Appl Physiol, October 1, 2004; 97(4): 1584 - 1587. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
Z.-J. Fu, M.-J. Xie, L.-F. Zhang, H.-W. Cheng, and J. Ma Differential activation of potassium channels in cerebral and hindquarter arteries of rats during simulated microgravity Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, October 1, 2004; 287(4): H1505 - H1515. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. Sun, L.-F. Zhang, F. Gao, X.-W. Ma, M.-L. Zhang, J. Liu, L.-N. Zhang, and J. Ma Daily short-period gravitation can prevent functional and structural changes in arteries of simulated microgravity rats J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2004; 97(3): 1022 - 1031. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. A. Spier, M. D. Delp, C. J. Meininger, A. J. Donato, M. W. Ramsey, and J. M. Muller-Delp Effects of ageing and exercise training on endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and structure of rat skeletal muscle arterioles J. Physiol., May 1, 2004; 556(3): 947 - 958. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. W. Stepp, D. M. Pollock, and J. C. Frisbee Low-flow vascular remodeling in the metabolic syndrome X Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, March 1, 2004; 286(3): H964 - H970. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Kamiya, D. Michikami, S. Iwase, J. Hayano, T. Kawada, M. Sugimachi, and K. Sunagawa {alpha}-Adrenergic vascular responsiveness to sympathetic nerve activity is intact after head-down bed rest in humans Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, January 1, 2004; 286(1): R151 - R157. [Abstract] [Full Text] |
||||
![]() |
C. G. Crandall, M. Shibasaki, T. E. Wilson, J. Cui, and B. D. Levine Prolonged head-down tilt exposure reduces maximal cutaneous vasodilator and sweating capacity in humans J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2003; 94(6): 2330 - 2336. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
B. J Behnke, P. McDonough, D. J Padilla, T. I Musch, and D. C Poole Oxygen exchange profile in rat muscles of contrasting fibre types J. Physiol., June 1, 2003; 549(2): 597 - 605. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. M. McAllister Endothelium-dependent vasodilation in different rat hindlimb skeletal muscles J Appl Physiol, May 1, 2003; 94(5): 1777 - 1784. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. Papadopoulos and M. D. Delp Effects of hindlimb unweighting on the mechanical and structure properties of the rat abdominal aorta J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2003; 94(2): 439 - 445. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Ma, C. I. Kahwaji, Z. Ni, N. D. Vaziri, and R. E. Purdy Effects of simulated microgravity on arterial nitric oxide synthase and nitrate and nitrite content J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2003; 94(1): 83 - 92. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. M. Muller-Delp, S. A. Spier, M. W. Ramsey, and M. D. Delp Aging impairs endothelium-dependent vasodilation in rat skeletal muscle arterioles Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, October 1, 2002; 283(4): H1662 - H1672. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. E. Purdy, C. I. Kahwaji, and L.-F. Zhang Vascular Adaptation to Microgravity: Extending the Hypothesis J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2002; 93(3): 1181 - 1182. [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
R. Freeman, V. Lirofonis, W. B. Farquhar, and M. Risk Limb venous compliance in patients with idiopathic orthostatic intolerance and postural tachycardia J Appl Physiol, August 1, 2002; 93(2): 636 - 644. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
W. G. Schrage, C. R. Woodman, and M. H. Laughlin Mechanisms of flow and ACh-induced dilation in rat soleus arterioles are altered by hindlimb unweighting J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2002; 92(3): 901 - 911. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. L. Heaps and D. K. Bowles Nonuniform changes in arteriolar myogenic tone within skeletal muscle following hindlimb unweighting J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2002; 92(3): 1145 - 1151. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
W. W. Waters, M. G. Ziegler, and J. V. Meck Postspaceflight orthostatic hypotension occurs mostly in women and is predicted by low vascular resistance J Appl Physiol, February 1, 2002; 92(2): 586 - 594. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. C. Hatton, Q. Yue, J. Chapman, H. Xue, J. Dierickx, C. Roullet, S. Coste, J. B. Roullet, and D. A. McCarron Blood pressure and mesenteric resistance arterial function after spaceflight J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2002; 92(1): 13 - 17. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. Nyhan, S. Kim, S. Dunbar, D. Li, A. Shoukas, and D. E. Berkowitz Impaired pulmonary artery contractile responses in a rat model of microgravity: role of nitric oxide J Appl Physiol, January 1, 2002; 92(1): 33 - 40. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L.-F. Zhang Vascular adaptation to microgravity: what have we learned? J Appl Physiol, December 1, 2001; 91(6): 2415 - 2430. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
T. A. Miller, L. A. Lesniewski, J. M. Muller-Delp, A. K. Majors, D. Scalise, and M. D. Delp Hindlimb unloading induces a collagen isoform shift in the soleus muscle of the rat Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, November 1, 2001; 281(5): R1710 - R1717. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. R. Woodman, W. G. Schrage, J. W. E. Rush, C. A. Ray, E. M. Price, E. M. Hasser, and M. H. Laughlin Hindlimb unweighting decreases endothelium-dependent dilation and eNOS expression in soleus not gastrocnemius J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2001; 91(3): 1091 - 1098. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
C. A. Ray, M. Vasques, T. A. Miller, M. K. Wilkerson, and M. D. Delp Effect of short-term microgravity and long-term hindlimb unloading on rat cardiac mass and function J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2001; 91(3): 1207 - 1213. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
A. R. Pries, B. Reglin, and T. W. Secomb Structural adaptation of microvascular networks: functional roles of adaptive responses Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, September 1, 2001; 281(3): H1015 - H1025. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. S. Sangha, S. Han, and R. E. Purdy Simulated microgravity upregulates an endothelial vasoconstrictor prostaglandin J Appl Physiol, August 1, 2001; 91(2): 789 - 796. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
L.-N. Zhang, L.-F. Zhang, and J. Ma Simulated microgravity enhances vasoconstrictor responsiveness of rat basilar artery J Appl Physiol, June 1, 2001; 90(6): 2296 - 2305. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
D. E. Watenpaugh, J. C. Buckey, L. D. Lane, F. A. Gaffney, B. D. Levine, W. E. Moore, S. J. Wright, and C. G. Blomqvist Effects of spaceflight on human calf hemodynamics J Appl Physiol, April 1, 2001; 90(4): 1552 - 1558. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
S. A. Wunsch, J. Muller-Delp, and M. D. Delp Time course of vasodilatory responses in skeletal muscle arterioles: role in hyperemia at onset of exercise Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, October 1, 2000; 279(4): H1715 - H1723. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
P. N. Colleran, M. K. Wilkerson, S. A. Bloomfield, L. J. Suva, R. T. Turner, and M. D. Delp Alterations in skeletal perfusion with simulated microgravity: a possible mechanism for bone remodeling J Appl Physiol, September 1, 2000; 89(3): 1046 - 1054. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
M. R. McCurdy, P. N. Colleran, J. Muller-Delp, and M. D. Delp Physiology of a Microgravity Environment: Selected Contribution: Effects of fiber composition and hindlimb unloading on the vasodilator properties of skeletal muscle arterioles J Appl Physiol, July 1, 2000; 89(1): 398 - 405. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
![]() |
J. Muller-Delp, S. A. Spier, M. W. Ramsey, L. A. Lesniewski, A. Papadopoulos, J. D. Humphrey, and M. D. Delp Effects of aging on vasoconstrictor and mechanical properties of rat skeletal muscle arterioles Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 2002; 282(5): H1843 - H1854. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF] |
||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| HOME | HELP | FEEDBACK | SUBSCRIPTIONS | ARCHIVE | SEARCH | TABLE OF CONTENTS |
| Visit Other APS Journals Online |