title: Assessing Direct Vascular Actions of Estrogens.
abstract: Estrogens are known to affect vascular function. In order to decipher the underlying mechanisms, it is essential to study the direct actions of estrogenic substances on blood vessels. There are two widely used approaches to assess the effects of estrogenic substances directly on blood vessels, the isolated perfused intact mesenteric vascular bed (McGregor preparation) and the isolated perfused/pressurized vessel approach. The McGregor preparation relies on constant flow with vascular reactivity assessed as changes in perfusion pressure. The isolated perfused/pressurized vessel approach uses a single vessel mounted on glass micropipettes. The main readout in this approach is vascular diameter. This chapter describes these approaches which remain cornerstones in the investigation of direct vascular actions of estrogenic substances.
authors.affiliation: Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, 414 E. Clark Street, Vermillion, SD, 57069, USA. Doug.Martin@usd.edu.
authors.forename: Douglas S
authors.initials: DS
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.affiliation: Division of Basic Biomedical Sciences, Sanford School of Medicine, University of South Dakota, 414 E. Clark Street, Vermillion, SD, 57069, USA.
authors.forename: Kathleen M
authors.initials: KM
authors.lastname: Eyster
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D062186:Arterial Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004967:Estrogens / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects*; D010052:Ovariectomy; D010477:Perfusion; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013997:Time Factors; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D057188:Workflow
chemical_list: D004967:Estrogens; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents
keywords: Isolated perfused /pressurized vessel; Isolated perfused mesentery; Perfusion pressure; Vascular diameter; Vascular response