title: Laboratory demonstration of vascular smooth muscle function using rat aortic ring segments.
abstract: This laboratory exercise uses a simple preparation and a straightforward protocol to illustrate many of the basic principles of vascular biology covered in an introductory physiology course. The design of this laboratory allows students to actively participate in an exercise demonstrating the regulation of arterial tone by endothelial and extrinsic factors. In addition, this hands-on laboratory allows students to gather data using well-known basic biomedical research techniques. Specifically, students are introduced to an isolated organ-chamber technique that is widely used to study cellular mechanisms of many tissues including vascular smooth muscle contraction and dilation. On the basis of student evaluations, participation in the experiments and interpreting data reinforce lecture materials on smooth muscle and endothelial cell function and illustrate mechanisms regulating vascular tone. Students come away with a greater understanding of vascular biology, a deeper appreciation of integrative physiology, and an understanding of the process of conducting tissue-chamber experiments.
authors.affiliation: Vascular Physiology Group, Department of Cell Biology and Physiology, University of New Mexico Health Sciences Center, Albuquerque, New Mexico 87131-0218, USA.
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Gonzales
authors.forename: R W
authors.initials: RW
authors.lastname: Carter
authors.forename: N L
authors.initials: NL
authors.lastname: Kanagy
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology; D019411:Clinical Laboratory Techniques / Q000592:standards; D015194:Diffusion Chambers, Culture; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010827:Physiology / Q000193:education*; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D013664:Teaching Materials; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019335:Nitroarginine; D002110:Caffeine; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D001285:Atropine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine