Endothelial control of vascular tone by nitric oxide and gap junctions: A haemodynamic perspective

Issue title: Workshop: Breaking Symmetry in Haemodynamics, London, UK, 23–24 April 2001

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Griffith, Tudor M.

Affiliations: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, Wales Heart Research Institute, University of Wales College of Medicine, Heath Park, Cardiff, CF14 4XN, UK Fax: +44 029 2974 4726; E‐mail: Griffith@cardiff.ac.uk

Abstract: Local haemodynamic forces acting on the endothelium modulate vascular tone through mechanisms that normalize intimal shear stress. This flow‐dependent diameter response contributes to the optimization of circulatory function and is mediated via shear stress‐induced release of NO, vasodilator prostanoids and a putative endothelium‐derived hyperpolarizing factor or EDHF. There is growing evidence that NO/prostanoid independent relaxations involve direct heterocellular signalling between endothelial and smooth muscle cells via gap junctions.

Keywords: Shear stress, flow, NO synthase, EDHF, connexin

Journal: Biorheology, vol. 39, no. 3-4, pp. 307-318, 2002