Faraci, Frank M. Reactive oxygen species: influence on cerebral vascular tone. J Appl Physiol 100: 739–743, 2006; doi:10.1152/japplphysiol.01044.2005.—Reactive oxygen species have multiple effects on vascular cells. Defining the sources and the impact of the various reactive oxygen species within the vessel wall has emerged as a major area of study in vascular biology. This review will focus on...

Renal preglomerular arterioles regulate vascular tone to ensure a large pressure gradient over short distances, a function that is extremely important for maintaining renal microcirculation. Regulation of renal microvascular tone is impaired in salt-sensitive (SS) hypertension-induced nephropathy, but the molecular mechanisms contributing to this impairment remain elusive. Here, we assessed the...

CaMKII is a calcium and calmodulin-activated kinase that has been shown to regulate learning and memory in the brain, and contractility in blood vessels. Following Ca activation, CaMKII autophosphorylates, gaining a calcium-independent autonomous activity that reflects a molecular memory of having previously come into contact with calcium. The present study addresses whether the molecular memor...

Hydrogen sulfide is the "third" gasotransmitter on the rise in cardiovascular research. Recent studies show that hydrogen sulfide has a great potential in the regulation of vascular tone of systemic arteries and many molecular targets are discussed. However, the complex mechanism of vascular tone regulation by hydrogen sulfide is only incompletely understood. It seems that a potent interaction ...

Adenosine is an endogenous mediator involved in a myriad of physiologic functions, including vascular tone regulation. It is also implicated in some pathologic conditions. Four distinct receptor subtypes mediate the effects of adenosine, such as its role in the regulation of the vascular tone. Vascular tone regulation is a complex and continuous process which involves many mechanisms and mediat...

OBJECTIVE Myogenic vasoconstriction is mediated by vascular smooth muscle cells of resistance arteries sensing mechanical stretch. Angiotensin II AT1 receptors and in particular AT1BRs in murine vascular smooth muscle cells have been characterized as mechanosensors that cannot fully account for myogenic vasoconstriction observed. Therefore, we aimed at uncovering novel vascular mechanosensors b...

Cerebral blood flow is highly sensitive to changes in CO2/H+ where an increase in CO2/H+ causes vasodilation and increased blood flow. Tissue CO2/H+ also functions as the main stimulus for breathing by activating chemosensitive neurons that control respiratory output. Considering that CO2/H+-induced vasodilation would accelerate removal of CO2/H+ and potentially counteract the drive to breathe,...

Recent evidence suggests oxytocin (OT) may regulate vascular tone. OT and its receptor (OTR) have been identified in the rat heart and great vessels. Expression of OT and OTR is increased in some tissues during pregnancy. We hypothesized that the OT/OTR system may be a physiological regulator of vascular tone and mediate the decreased vascular resistance noted during pregnancy. Using a wire myo...

Recent clinical studies have reported that testosterone therapy reduces myocardial ischaemia in men with coronary artery disease, and the beneficial modulation of coronary vascular tone by testosterone has been proposed as an effector mechanism. Maintenance of a correct response to vasoconstrictive and vasodilatory agents is essential in the control of vascular tone. Endothelial dysfunction, mo...

Flow-mediated dilation (FMD) measures the ability of an artery to relax in response to increases in blood velocity. FMD, primarily of the brachial artery, has been used as a noninvasive method of assessing vascular health. The purpose of this study was to assess FMD in the lower legs of humans. Six healthy subjects (27 PlusMinus; 6 yrs) were tested. Doppler ultrasound images of the posterior ti...