Neurohumoral control of blood vessels: some future directions.
The recent discoveries of vascular neuroeffector control mechanisms, involving a wide variety of neurohumoral agents, pre- and postjunctional neuromodulation, and cotransmission, leave the field poised for growth in new directions. Some of these are outlined in this article, including: the development of methods for quantitation of the pattern and density of different types of perivascular nerves; exploration of the potent actions of purine nucleotides and nucleosides on vascular smooth muscle and/or endothelial cells, particularly in relation to the development of drugs of therapeutic potential; expansion of studies of the regulatory implications of cotransmitter release of ATP together with noradrenaline from some sympathetic perivascular nerves and of VIP together with acetylcholine from some parasympathetic nerves; autoradiographic localization of receptors for monoamines, peptides of and purines in blood vessels; wider studies of "axon reflex" control of the circulation and of the roles of substance P; investigation of development, aging, and regeneration of different perivascular nerve types, and the long-term "trophic" actions of some neurohumoral agents. Lastly, the time is ripe to study abnormalities in neurohumoral control of vessels in disease and after chronic exposure to drugs.
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D000818:Animals; D001342:Autonomic Nervous System Diseases / Q000503:physiopathology; D001808:Blood Vessels / Q000294:innervation / Q000502:physiology*; D004727:Endothelium / Q000187:drug effects; D006651:Histocytochemistry; D006801:Humans; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects; D009416:Nerve Regeneration; D009469:Neuromuscular Junction / Q000502:physiology; D009475:Neurons, Afferent / Q000502:physiology; D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents / Q000502:physiology*; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter / Q000032:analysis / Q000502:physiology; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic; D009435:Synaptic Transmission
D018377:Neurotransmitter Agents; D017981:Receptors, Neurotransmitter; D011983:Receptors, Purinergic