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

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

SUBMITTER: Leloup AJA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6391714 | biostudies-literature | 2019 Feb

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature