Hypertension I: Structure of Small Arteries in Hypertension

Robert M.K.W. Lee
rmkwlee@fhs.mcmaster.ca

>Congratulations on a careful methodological study!  Under in vivo conditions, there is presumably a vascular tone, and this is emphasised by the in vivo diameters which you measure: around 120 um, considerably less than I would expect of vessels in this region (first branches off the superior mesenteric artery?) under relaxed conditions.  Your in situ fixation method causes a (small) reduction in this diameter.  This reduced diameter is also seen in the in vitro system, which suggests that there is also some vascular tone there.  You suggest that the measurements are being made in the absence of tone?  Are you sure about this?  This is of course vital, when making investigations of vascular structure.

>Michael Mulvany


Mike,
    Thank you for your thoughtful question.  All the vessels from our in situ and in vitro studies were examined with the confocal microscope, and there was no morphological indication that the smooth muscle cells were contracted.  Whether these mesenteric vessels from young SHR and WKY have vascular tone, is an interesting question. We suspect that they may not.  Our colleagues from microcirculation research who measure vessels under in situ conditions may be able to help us with this question.  
   In regard to the caliper of the vessels, these vessels came from 4-week old rats.  In these animals which weigh 60 grams, their average lumen size is in that range.

Bob Lee