Naslov
Structural properties of resistance arteries of neuropeptide Y transgenic rats

Autori
Drenjančević-Perić, Ines ; Lombard, Julian H ; Michalkiewicz, Michael

Izvornik
FASEB Journal (0892-6638) 17 (2003), 4; A534-A534

Vrsta, podvrsta i kategorija rada
Radovi u časopisima, kongresno priopcenje, znanstveni

Ključne riječi
neuropeptide Y; mesenteric arteries; vascular structure

Sažetak
Neuropeptide Y (NPY) is expressed in the sympathetic nerve fibers that innervate the blood vessels. Previous studies have demonstrated that up-regulation of NPY leads to increased total vascular resistance in NPY transgenic rats (NTG). In the present study, we tested the hypothesis that overexpression of NPY leads to structural changes in resistance arteries. NPY transgenic rats were developed by injection of Sprague-Dawley rat pronuclei with a 14.5 kbp clone of the rat structural NPY gene. In this transgenic strain, NPY overexpression was observed in a number of cardiovascular tissues, including small arteries and veins. For this study, isolated, cannulated mesenteric arteries (280-350 &#61549; m internal diameter, 310-390 &#61549; m outer diameter) of 12-14 weeks old male NTG and their nontransgenic littermate controls, were pressurized to 80 mmHg, and passive vessel diameters were measured by video microscopy in Ca++-free PSS. Arteries of NTG rats exhibited significantly (p<0.05) reduced incremental distensibility and an increased wall to lumen ratio compared to nontransgenic control rats. Wall thickness and cross-sectional wall area also tended to be greater in NTG rats than in nontransgenic littermates. Thus, overexpression of endogenous NPY leads to structural remodeling in resistance vessels of NTG rats. These results suggest that endogenous NPY is a physiological mediator controlling growth processes in resistance vessels.

Izvorni jezik
Engleski

Znanstvena područja
Temeljne medicinske znanosti

POVEZANOST RADA