Vascular growth in hypertension.
This article discusses some of the mechanisms controlling the development of the vasculature. The process is complex, and the result makes it possible for the cardiovascular system to supply each tissue with the required amount of blood at the correct pressure. In general, the changes appear to be adaptive, such that the vessels perform their tasks more effectively. Increasing flow appears to be a powerful stimulus to growth, resulting in an increased lumen, whereas raised pressure is associated with an increased media: lumen ratio, which in human essential hypertension may be caused by remodeling (rearrangement of otherwise normal cells) rather than vascular growth. Thus, the physical environment (intravascular flow and pressure) plays an important role in determining vascular structure. This suggests that an important aspect of future research will be to understand more closely the mechanism by which the physical factors can stimulate growth, a process that must presumably be mediated by proto-oncogenes.
Mulvany
M J
MJ
Department of Pharmacology, Aarhus University, Denmark.
D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000473:pathology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000473:pathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000473:pathology*; D051381:Rats; D014655:Vascular Resistance
D000804:Angiotensin II