Arteriolar rarefaction in hypertension.
The functional rarefaction of small arterioles previously reported at 6 weeks of age in the SHR has been shown to be a structural decrease in arteriolar density as well. In addition, the high "occlusive tone" normally found in young normotensive rats is observed in the older SHR. This elevated tone contributes to a functional rarefaction in the older SHR arterioles. The mechanism for the rarefaction appears to be related to the cAMP/cGMP second messenger system.
D000375:Aging; D000818:Animals; D001157:Arterial Occlusive Diseases / Q000097:blood; D001160:Arterioles; D000242:Cyclic AMP / Q000378:metabolism; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D006973:Hypertension / Q000097:blood*; D009132:Muscles / Q000098:blood supply*; D051381:Rats
D000242:Cyclic AMP; D006152:Cyclic GMP