Signaling and structures underpinning conducted vasodilation in human and porcine intramyocardial coronary arteries.

ABSTRACT:

Background

Adequate blood flow into coronary micro-arteries is essential for myocardial function. Here we assess the mechanisms responsible for amplifying blood flow into myogenically-contracting human and porcine intramyocardial micro-arteries ex vivo using endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilators.

Methods

Human and porcine atrial and ventricular small intramyocardial coronary arteries (IMCAs) were studied with pressure myography and imaged using confocal microscopy and serial section/3-D reconstruction EM.

Results

3D rendered ultrastructure images of human right atrial (RA-) IMCAs revealed extensive homo-and hetero-cellular contacts, including to longitudinally-arranged smooth muscle cells (l-SMCs) found between the endothelial cells (ECs) and radi

SUBMITTER: Dora KA 

PROVIDER: S-EPMC9411971 | biostudies-literature | 2022

REPOSITORIES: biostudies-literature