High vascular tone of mouse femoral arteries in vivo is determined by sympathetic nerve activity via α1A- and α1D-adrenoceptor subtypes.

ABSTRACT:

Background and purpose

Determining the role of vascular receptors in vivo is difficult and not readily accomplished by systemic application of antagonists or genetic manipulations. Here we used intravital microscopy to measure the contributions of sympathetic receptors, particularly α1-adrenoceptor subtypes, to contractile activation of femoral artery in vivo.

Experimental approach

Diameter and intracellular calcium ([Ca(2+)]i) in femoral arteries were determined by intravital fluorescence microscopy in mice expressing a Myosin Light Chain Kinase (MLCK) based calcium-calmodulin biosensor. Pharmacological agents were applied locally to the femoral artery to determine the contributions of vascular receptors to tonic contraction and [Ca(2+)]i,.

Key results

In the anesthe

SUBMITTER: Zacharia J 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC3680395 | biostudies-literature | 2013

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature