title: An optimal initial tension for rat basilar artery in wire myography.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The aim of the present study was to determine the optimal initial tension for the rat basilar artery when using wire myography.
  
  
  METHODS
  Rat basilar arteries were mounted in myograph baths. A normalization procedure was performed. K(+)-rich (60mM) buffer solution-induced tension was measured in different initial tensions.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The initial tension of the basilar artery increased from 0.47 to 2.68mN/mm. Contractile tension was also elevated along with the initial tension. When the initial tension reached 1.63mN/mm, K(+)-induced contractile tension of basilar artery achieved its maximum. Thereafter, contractile tension declined as initial tension increased. The duration of equilibration time did not affect K(+)-induced contractile tension.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The optimal initial tension is 1.63±0.01mN/mm in rat basilar arteries when using wire myography.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Xue
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Xiao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Na-Na
authors.initials: NN
authors.lastname: Ping
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Sen
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China. Electronic address: leicao@mail.xjtu.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Lei
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Cao
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Xi'an Jiaotong University Health Science Center, Xi'an, Shaanxi, China.
authors.forename: Yong-Xia
authors.initials: YX
authors.lastname: Cao
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001488:Basilar Artery / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009213:Myography / Q000379:methods*; D011188:Potassium / Q000378:metabolism; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D013997:Time Factors; D014661:Vasoconstriction
chemical_list: D011188:Potassium
keywords: Basilar artery; Normalization procedure; Optimal initial tension; Rat; Wire myograph