TY - JOUR
T1 - Methods for isolation, cannulation, and in vitro study of single microvessels
AU - Duling, B. R.
AU - Gore, R. W.
AU - Dacey, R. G.
AU - Damon, D. N.
PY - 1981
Y1 - 1981
N2 - A method is described for the isolation and cannulation of microvessels (12-112 μm) that permits study, in vitro, of their physiology and pharmacology. Vessels from the hamster cheeck pouch, testis, and mesentery and from rat brain have been isolated at 4°C with specially prepared instruments and viewed with an inverted microscope. The vessels were cannulated at one end by equipment developed for renal tubular perfusion. The uncannulated end of the vessel is sealed, and experiments on reactivity and mechanics are carried out at fixed intravascular pressures. The isolated microvessels studied have a modulus of elasticity that is consistent with that observed in larger vessels, and they display similar maximal active tension development (~106 dyn/cm2). Reactivity to norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and adenosine are in the normal range for microvessels. Spontaneous tone is present, as evidenced by stable tonic contractions as well as phasic contractions in the frequency range of 3-30/min. The vessels display stress activation (myogenic response) consisting of contraction in response to increased intraluminal pressure. Our findings suggest that this preparation will be very useful in elucidating the physiology and pharmacology of the resistance vessels in the terminal vasculature.
AB - A method is described for the isolation and cannulation of microvessels (12-112 μm) that permits study, in vitro, of their physiology and pharmacology. Vessels from the hamster cheeck pouch, testis, and mesentery and from rat brain have been isolated at 4°C with specially prepared instruments and viewed with an inverted microscope. The vessels were cannulated at one end by equipment developed for renal tubular perfusion. The uncannulated end of the vessel is sealed, and experiments on reactivity and mechanics are carried out at fixed intravascular pressures. The isolated microvessels studied have a modulus of elasticity that is consistent with that observed in larger vessels, and they display similar maximal active tension development (~106 dyn/cm2). Reactivity to norepinephrine, acetylcholine, and adenosine are in the normal range for microvessels. Spontaneous tone is present, as evidenced by stable tonic contractions as well as phasic contractions in the frequency range of 3-30/min. The vessels display stress activation (myogenic response) consisting of contraction in response to increased intraluminal pressure. Our findings suggest that this preparation will be very useful in elucidating the physiology and pharmacology of the resistance vessels in the terminal vasculature.
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=0019596337&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1152/ajpheart.1981.241.1.h108
DO - 10.1152/ajpheart.1981.241.1.h108
M3 - Article
C2 - 7195654
AN - SCOPUS:0019596337
VL - 10
SP - H108-H116
JO - American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
JF - American Journal of Physiology - Heart and Circulatory Physiology
SN - 0363-6135
IS - 1
ER -