Hypoxically Induced Nitric Oxide: Potential Role as a Vasodilator in Mytilus edulis Gills.

ABSTRACT: Intertidal Mytilus edulis experience rapid transgression to hypoxia when they close their valves during low tide. This induces a physiological stress response aiming to stabilize tissue perfusion against declining oxygen partial pressure in shell water. We hypothesized that nitric oxide (NO) accumulation supports blood vessel opening in hypoxia and used live imaging techniques to measure NO and superoxide anion ( O2∙- ) formation in hypoxia-exposed gill filaments. Thirty minutes of moderate (7 kPa pO2) and severe hypoxia (1 kPa pO2) caused 1.6- and 2.4-fold increase, respectively, of NO accumulation in the endothelial muscle cells of the hemolymphatic vessels of the gill filaments. This led to a dilatation of blood vessel diameter by 43% (7 kPa) and 56% (1 kPa), which facilitates blood flo

SUBMITTER: Gonzalez PM 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC6411825 | biostudies-literature | 2018

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature