title: Contribution of vasomotion to vascular resistance: a comparison of arteries from virgin and pregnant rats.
abstract: Intrinsic oscillatory activity, or vasomotion, within the microcirculation has many potential functions, including modulation of vascular resistance. Alterations in oscillatory activity during pregnancy may contribute to the marked reduction in vascular resistance. The purpose of this study was 1) to mathematically model the oscillatory changes in vessel diameter and determine the effect on vascular resistance and 2) to characterize the vasomotion in resistance arteries of pregnant and nonpregnant (virgin) rats. Mesenteric arteries were isolated from Sprague-Dawley rats and studied in a pressurized arteriograph. Mathematical modeling demonstrated that the resistance in a vessel with vasomotion was greater than that in a static vessel with the same mean radius. During constriction with the alpha1-adrenergic agonist phenylephrine, the amplitude of oscillation was less in the arteries from pregnant rats. We conclude that vasomotor activity may provide a mechanism to regulate vascular resistance and blood flow independent of static changes in arterial diameter. During pregnancy the decrease in vasomotor activity in resistance arteries may contribute to the reduction in peripheral vascular resistance.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics, Gynecology and Reproductive Sciences, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh PA 15213, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gratton
authors.forename: R E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Gandley
authors.forename: J F
authors.initials: JF
authors.lastname: McCarthy
authors.forename: W K
authors.initials: WK
authors.lastname: Michaluk
authors.forename: B K
authors.initials: BK
authors.lastname: Slinker
authors.forename: M K
authors.initials: MK
authors.lastname: McLaughlin
mesh_terms: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008433:Mathematics; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008955:Models, Cardiovascular; D009991:Oscillometry; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011247:Pregnancy; D011270:Pregnancy, Animal / Q000502:physiology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D000316:Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; D010656:Phenylephrine