Correlation of Pulmonary Arterial Smooth Muscle Structure and Reactivity during Adaptation to Extrauterine Life

Abstract

Peripheral pulmonary arteries remodel immediately after birth as pulmonary vascular resistance falls. We hypothesised that there is a link between the response to agonist stimulation and wall structure in early postnatal life. Arteries from fetal, newborn and 14-day-old piglets were mounted on a perfusion myograph. Lumen diameter and smooth muscle cell nuclear positions were recorded after sequential addition of KCl, U46619 and bradykinin. Subsequently, vessels were studied by confocal and transmission electron microscopy. Contractile agonist stimulation caused a greater and faster reduction in lumen diameter in the newborn than at 14 days (p < 0.02) and the distance between cells decreased more in the newborn (p < 0.05). Unstimulated smooth muscle cells changed shape from being rounded in the fetus to fusiform by 14 days, with increasing length/width ratio (p < 0.01). On contraction, length/width ratio decreased most at 14 days (p < 0.01). Extracellular matrix, collagen and elastin, sparse at birth, increased by 14 days. Thus a greater change in lumen diameter in relation to cellular contraction was observed in the newborn than at 14 days and the amount of extracellular matrix within the vessel wall may affect the overall change in lumen diameter.

Journal

Journal ID (publisher-id): JVR

Journal ID (nlm-ta): J Vasc Res

Journal ID (doi): 10.1159/issn.1018-1172

Title: Journal of Vascular Research

Publisher: S. Karger AG

ISSN (Print): 1018-1172

ISSN (Electronic): 1423-0135

Publication date Subscription-year: 2002

Publication date (Print): February 2002

Publication date (Electronic): 13 February 2002

Volume: 39

Issue: 1

Pages: 30-40

Affiliations

Unit of Vascular Biology and Pharmacology, Institute of Child Health, London, UK

Article

Publisher ID: 48991 Other ID: J Vasc Res 2002;39:30–40

DOI: 10.1159/000048991

PubMed ID: 11844935

Copyright statement: © 2002 S. Karger AG, Basel

License:

Copyright: All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be translated into other languages, reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, microcopying, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the publisher. Drug Dosage: The authors and the publisher have exerted every effort to ensure that drug selection and dosage set forth in this text are in accord with current recommendations and practice at the time of publication. However, in view of ongoing research, changes in government regulations, and the constant flow of information relating to drug therapy and drug reactions, the reader is urged to check the package insert for each drug for any changes in indications and dosage and for added warnings and precautions. This is particularly important when the recommended agent is a new and/or infrequently employed drug. Disclaimer: The statements, opinions and data contained in this publication are solely those of the individual authors and contributors and not of the publishers and the editor(s). The appearance of advertisements or/and product references in the publication is not a warranty, endorsement, or approval of the products or services advertised or of their effectiveness, quality or safety. The publisher and the editor(s) disclaim responsibility for any injury to persons or property resulting from any ideas, methods, instructions or products referred to in the content or advertisements.

Page count

Figures: 7, References: 30, Pages: 11

Product

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Categories

Subject: Research Paper