Organ culture mimics the effects of hypoxia on membrane potential, K(+) channels and vessel tone in pulmonary artery.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Blood vessel culture is gaining interest for use with transfection-based techniques, but alters the contractile properties of the vessels. The present study tested the effects of culture on the intrinsic tone of rat pulmonary arteries (PAs) and examined the function and expression of K(+) channels regulating the resting membrane potential (E(m)) and tone of pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs).

Experimental approach

Rat intrapulmonary arteries were isolated and cultured under standard and modified conditions. Contractile responses of fresh and cultured PA were compared using vessel myograph. Electrophysiology experiments on isolated PASMCs used the patch-clamp technique. K(+) channel expression was quantified using reverse transcription and re

SUBMITTER: Manoury B 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC2765603 | biostudies-literature | 2009 Oct

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature