biostudies-literatureFontes MTNIA NIH HHSNHLBI NIH HHSNational Institutes of HealthNIH HHSNIGMS NIH HHSNational Institute on Agingzqae042https://www.ebi.ac.uk/biostudies/studies/S-EPMC11577611biostudies-literatureUnknown5(6)The regulation of vascular tone by perivascular tissues is a complex interplay of various paracrine factors. Here, we investigate the anti-contractile effect of skeletal muscle surrounding the femoral and carotid arteries and its underlying mechanisms. Using male and female Wistar rats, we demonstrated that serotonin, phenylephrine, and U-46619 induced a concentration-dependent vasoconstrictor response in femoral artery rings. Interestingly, this response was diminished in the presence of surrounding femoral skeletal muscle, irrespective of sex. No anti-contractile effect was observed when the carotid artery was exposed to its surrounding skeletal muscle. The observed effect in the femoral artery persisted even in the absence of endothelium and when the muscle was detached from the artery.Function (Oxford, England)A Skeletal Muscle-Mediated Anticontractile Response on Vascular Tone: Unraveling the Lactate-AMPK-NOS1 Pathway in Femoral Arteries.PMC11577611P20GM103641R21 AG085331R01HL149762R01 HL149762U54 HL169191P20 GM103641R00HL151889R21AG085331Hollis FAraujo FABomfim GFMcCarthy CGBarros PRde Paula RBCosta TJWenceslau CFTownsend PVelazquez KTButcher JTFontes MTButler LfalseA Skeletal Muscle-Mediated Anticontractile Response on Vascular Tone: Unraveling the Lactate-AMPK-NOS1 Pathway in Femoral Arteries.The regulation of vascular tone by perivascular tissues is a complex interplay of various paracrine factors. Here, we investigate the anti-contractile effect of skeletal muscle surrounding the femoral and carotid arteries and its underlying mechanisms. Using male and female Wistar rats, we demonstrated that serotonin, phenylephrine, and U-46619 induced a concentration-dependent vasoconstrictor response in femoral artery rings. Interestingly, this response was diminished in the presence of surrounding femoral skeletal muscle, irrespective of sex. No anti-contractile effect was observed when the carotid artery was exposed to its surrounding skeletal muscle. The observed effect in the femoral artery persisted even in the absence of endothelium and when the muscle was detached from the artery.2024-01-01T00:00:00Z2024 Nov2025-04-26T01:51:55.297Z2025-04-06T10:20:07.594ZS-EPMC115776113928900310.1093/function/zqae042