HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS		QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced] Author: Keyword(s): Year:  Vol:  Page:

This Article Full Text Full Text (PDF) All Versions of this Article: 548/2/549    most recent 2002.035907v1 Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Bakker, E. N. T. P. Articles by VanBavel, E. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Bakker, E. N. T. P. Articles by VanBavel, E.

Differential structural adaptation to haemodynamics along single rat cremaster arterioles

E. N. T. P. Bakker, J. P. Versluis*, P. Sipkema*, J. W. G. E. VanTeeffelen, T. M. Rolf, J. A. E. Spaan and E. VanBavel

We tested the hypothesis that under physiological conditions, arterioles match their diameter to the level of shear stress. Haemodynamic and anatomical data were obtained in segments of the first-order arteriole of the rat cremaster muscle. Along this segment of ~10 mm in length, local blood pressure decreased from 68 ± 4 mmHg upstream to 54 ± 3 mmHg downstream (n = 5). Pulse pressure decreased from 8.2 ± 1.3 mmHg upstream to 4.1 ± 0.6 mmHg downstream. At the same locations, an increase in arteriolar diameter was measured in vivo, from 179 ± 4 µm upstream to 203 ± 4 µm downstream (n = 10). In vitro pressure-diameter relations of maximally dilated vessels showed that the passive diameter was larger in downstream than upstream segments over a 15-125 mmHg pressure range (n = 18). The wall stress was similar for the upstream vs. downstream location: 266 ± 16 vs. 260 ± 14 mN mm^-2. However, shear stress decreased from 30 ± 5 to 21 ± 5 dyn cm^-2 (3.0 ± 0.5 to 2.1 ± 0.5 N m^-2; n = 4) along the artery. In conclusion, these results demonstrate that shear stress is not the only factor in determining vascular calibre. We suggest that arteriolar calibre may rather depend on an interplay between shear stress and the local pressure profile.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				J. C. B. Jacobsen, M. J. Mulvany, and N.-H. Holstein-Rathlou A mechanism for arteriolar remodeling based on maintenance of smooth muscle cell activation Am J Physiol Regulatory Integrative Comp Physiol, April 1, 2008; 294(4): R1379 - R1389. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				R. F. Kelly and H. M. Snow Characteristics of the response of the iliac artery to wall shear stress in the anaesthetized pig J. Physiol., July 15, 2007; 582(2): 731 - 743. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				J. S. Choy, Q. Dang, S. Molloi, and G. S. Kassab Nonuniformity of axial and circumferential remodeling of large coronary veins in response to ligation Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, April 1, 2006; 290(4): H1558 - H1565. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Gruionu, J. B. Hoying, L. G. Gruionu, M. H. Laughlin, and T. W. Secomb Structural adaptation increases predicted perfusion capacity after vessel obstruction in arteriolar arcade network of pig skeletal muscle Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, June 1, 2005; 288(6): H2778 - H2784. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				G. Gruionu, J. B. Hoying, A. R. Pries, and T. W. Secomb Structural remodeling of mouse gracilis artery after chronic alteration in blood supply Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, May 1, 2005; 288(5): H2047 - H2054. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]

				E. N. T. P. Bakker, O. Sorop, J. A. E. Spaan, and E. VanBavel Remodeling of resistance arteries in organoid culture is modulated by pressure and pressure pulsation and depends on vasomotion Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, June 1, 2004; 286(6): H2052 - H2056. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]