Abstract
Glomerular flow is regulated through diameter changes in the afferent arteriole (AA). In turn diameter of the AA is regulated primarily by the myogenic response and by the tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism constituting renal autoregulation. Connexin 40 (Cx40) is the main connexin of endothelial gap junctions in AA and it has been shown previously that Cx40 knock‐out (Cx40KO) mice lack TGF. In the present study we investigated whether absence of functional Cx40 in the endothelium also affects the properties of the myogenic response in the AA. We compared the diameter changes of the AA to an increase in renal perfusion pressure, which elicits an autoregulatory AA contraction induced by the myogenic response and TGF. We compared papillectomized wildtype mice (lacking TGF, but with intact intracellular communication in the endothelial layer) versus Cx40KO mice (lacking TGF and with deficient intracellular communication in the endothelium). We found no differences between the two groups indicating that the level of myogenic tone is largely determined by the local pressure, independent of longitudinal endothelial communication. In addition we modeled the observed myogenic response and estimated the characteristic relation between circumferential stress and vessel wall activation leading to the observed myogenic behavior.
Published Version
Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
