Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Myogenic and flow-dependent control mechanisms in the coronary microcirculation

  • Editorial
  • Published:
Basic Research in Cardiology Aims and scope Submit manuscript

Summary

We have recently gained evidence that segmental coronary microvascular diameters, and therefore resistances, are controlled by myogenic and endothelial responses to pressure and flow. Furthermore, intact heart studies are demonstrating that these mechanisms may interact importantly with the metabolic mechanisms primarily governing coronary blood flow. Further studies utilizing measurement of segmental coronary microvascular diameters in isolated microvessels and in the beating heart may elucidate the nature of these interactions. Clinical studies may determine whether reversal of endothelial impairment in the diseased coronary microcirculation contributes to autoregulatory vasodilatation, increases resting myocardial perfusion, and increases the threshold for myocardial ischemia during exercise.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this article

Log in via an institution

Price excludes VAT (USA)
Tax calculation will be finalised during checkout.

Instant access to the full article PDF.

Institutional subscriptions

References

  1. Amezcua JL, Palmer RMJ, de Souza BM, Moncada S (1989) Nitric oxide synthesised froml-arginine regulates vascular tone in the coronary circulation of the rabbit. Brit J Pharmacol 97:1119–1124

    Google Scholar 

  2. Ashikawa K, Kanatsuka H, Suzuki T, Takishima T (1986) Phasic blood flow velocity pattern in epimyocardial microvessels in the beating canine left ventricle. Circ Res 59:704–711

    Google Scholar 

  3. Bayliss WM (1902) On the local reaction of the arterial wall to changes of internal pressure. J Physiol (London) 28:220–231

    Google Scholar 

  4. Boatwright RB, Downey HF, Bashour FA, Crystal GJ (1980) Transmural variation in autoregulation of coronary blood flow in hyperperfused canine myocardium. Circ Res 47:599–609

    Google Scholar 

  5. Chilian WM, Layne SM, Klausner EC, Eastham CL, Marcus ML (1989) Redistribution of coronary microvascular resistance produced by dipyridamole. Am J Physiol 256:H383–H390

    Google Scholar 

  6. Chu A, Chambers DE, Lin C-C, Kuehl WD, Palmer RMJ, Moncada S, Cobb RF (1991) Effects of inhibition of nitric oxide formation on basal vasomotion and endothelium-dependent responses of the coronary arteries in awake dogs. J Clin Invest 87:1964–1968

    Google Scholar 

  7. Davies PF (1989) How do vascular endothelial cells respond to flow? NIPS 4:22–25

    Google Scholar 

  8. Davis MJ (1991) Myogenic response gradient in an arteriolar network. In: Mulvaney MJ, Aalkjaer C, Heagerty AM, Nyborg NCB, Strandgaard S (eds) Resistance arteries: structure and function. Elsevier, Amsterdam, p 51–55

    Google Scholar 

  9. Davis MJ, Donovitz JA, Hood JD (1992) Stretch-activated single-channel and whole cell currents in vascular smooth muscle cells. Am J Physiol 262:C1083–C1088

    Google Scholar 

  10. DeFily DV, Chilian WM (1991) Preconditioning protects coronary microvascular endothelial function. Circ 84:II-1726 (Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  11. Dean JD, Jones CJH, Hutchison S, Peters JR, Henderson AH (1991) Hyperinsulinaemia and microvascular angina (Syndrome X). Lancet 337:456–457

    Google Scholar 

  12. Falcone JC, Kuo L, Meininger GA (1992) Increases in endothelial cell calcium during flow-induced dilation in isolated arterioles. Am J Physiol (In Press)

  13. Folkow B (1949) Intravascular pressure as a factor regulating the tone of the small vessels. Acta Physiol Scand 17:289–310

    Google Scholar 

  14. Gerova M, Gero J, Barta E, Dolezel S, Smiesko V, Levicky V (1981) Neurogenic and myogenic control of conduit coronary a.: a possible interference. Bas Res Cardiol 76:503–507

    Google Scholar 

  15. Granger HJ (1989) Coordinated microvascular reactions mediated by series-coupling of metabolic, myogenic and flow-sensitive elements. FASEB J 3:A1387 (Abstract)

    Google Scholar 

  16. Harder DR (1987) Pressure-induced myogenic activation of cat cerebral arteries is dependent on intact endothelium. Circ Res 60:102–107

    Google Scholar 

  17. Hintze TH, Vatner SF (1984) Reactive dilation of large coronary arteries in conscious dogs. Circ Res 54:50–57

    Google Scholar 

  18. Holtz J, Forstermann U, Pohl U, Giesler M, Bassenge E (1984) Flow-dependent, endotheliummediated dilation of epicardial coronary arteries in conscious dogs: effects of cyclooxygenase inhibition. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol 6:1161–1169

    Google Scholar 

  19. Holtz J, Giesler M, Bassenge E (1983) Two dilatory mechanisms of anti-anginal drugs on epicardial coronary arteries in vivo: indirect, flow-dependent, endothelium-mediated dilation and direct smooth muscle relaxation. Z Kardiol 72:98–106

    Google Scholar 

  20. Kanatsuka H, Lamping KG, Eastham CL, Dellsperger KC, Marcus ML (1989) Comparison of the effects of increased myocardial oxygen consumption and adenosine on the coronary microvascular resistance. Circ Res 65:1296–1305

    Google Scholar 

  21. Kostic MM, Schrader J (1992) Role of nitric oxide in reactive hyperaemia of the guinea pig heart. Circ Res 70:208–212

    Google Scholar 

  22. Kuo L, Arko F, Chilian WM, Davis MJ (1992) Nitrovasodilator-mediated flow-induced dilation in isolated porcine coronary venules. FASEB J 6:A1752

    Google Scholar 

  23. Kuo L, Chilian W, Davis MJ (1990) Coronary arteriolar myogenic response is independent of endothelium. Circ Res 66:860–866

    Google Scholar 

  24. Kuo L, Chilian WM, Davis MJ (1991) Interaction of pressure- and flow-induced responses in porcine coronary resistance vessels. Am J Physiol 258:H1706–H1715

    Google Scholar 

  25. Kuo L, Davis MJ, Chilian WM (1990) Endothelium-dependent, flow-induced dilation of isolated coronary arterioles. Am J Physiol 259:H1063–H1070

    Google Scholar 

  26. Kuo L, Davis MJ, Cannon MS, Chilian WM (1992) Pathophysiological consequences of atherosclerosis extend into the coronary microcirculation. Restoration of endothelium-dependent responses by L-arginine. Circ Res 70:465–476

    Google Scholar 

  27. Kuo L, Davis MJ, Chilian WM (1988) Myogenic activity in isolated subepicardial and subendocardial coronary arterioles. Am J Physiol 255:H1558–H1562

    Google Scholar 

  28. Kuo L, Davis MJ, Chilian WM (1992) Response gradient for flow-induced dilation in the porcine coronary microvascular network. FASEB J 6:A2078

    Google Scholar 

  29. Kuo L, Davis MJ, Chilian WM (1992) Endothelial modulation of arteriolar tone. NIPS 7:5–9

    Google Scholar 

  30. Lamontagne D, Pohl U, Busse R (1992) Mechanical deformation of vessel wall and shear stress determine the basal release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor in the intact rabbit coronary vascular bed. Circ Res 70:123–130

    Google Scholar 

  31. McHale PA, Dube GP, Greenfield JC (1987) Evidence for myogenic vasomotor activity in the coronary circulation. Prog. Cardiovasc Dis 30:139–146

    Google Scholar 

  32. Meininger GA, Davis MJ (1992) Cellular mechanisms involved in the myogenic response. Am J Physiol 263:H647–H659

    Google Scholar 

  33. Mo M, Eskin SG, Schilling WP (1991) Flow-induced changes in Ca2+ signalling of vascular endothelial cells: effects of shear stress and ATP. Am J Physiol 260:H1698–H1707

    Google Scholar 

  34. Motz W, Vogt M, Rabenau O, Scheler S, Luckhoff A, Strauer BE (1991) Evidence of endothelial dysfunction in coronary resistance vessels in patients with angina pectoris and normal coronary angiograms. Am J Cardiol 68:996–1003

    Google Scholar 

  35. Parent R, Pare P, Lavallee M (1992) Contribution of nitric oxide to dilation of resistance coronary vessels in conscious dogs. Am J Physiol 262:H10-H16

    Google Scholar 

  36. Quillen JE, Sellke FW, Brooks LA, Harrison DG (1990) Ischaemia-reperfusion impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation of coronary microvessels but does not affect large arteries> Circ 82:586–594

    Google Scholar 

  37. Schwartz GG, McHale PA, Greenfield JC Jr (1982) Hyperemic response of the coronary circulation to brief diastolic occlusion in the conscious dog. Circ Res 50:28–37

    Google Scholar 

  38. Smith REA, Palmer RMJ, Bucknall CA, Moncada S (1992) Role of nitric oxide synthesis in the regulation of coronary vascular tone in the isolated perfused rabbit heart. Cardiovasc Res 26:508–512

    Google Scholar 

  39. Ueeda M, Silvia SK, Olsson RA (1992) Nitric oxide modulates coronary autoregulation in the guinea pig. Circ Res 70:1296–1303

    Google Scholar 

  40. Woodman OL, Dusting GJ (1991) N-nitro-l-arginine causes coronary vasoconstriction and inhibits endothelium-dependent vasodilatation in anaesthetized greyhounds Brit J Pharmacol 103: 1407–1410

    Google Scholar 

  41. Yuan Y, Granger HJ, Zawieja DC, Chilian WM (1992) Flow modulates coronary venular permeability by a nitric oxide-related mechanism. Am J Physiol 263:H641–H646

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Author information

Author notes

  1. C. J. H. Jones & W. M. Chilian

    Present address: Department of Medical Physiology, Microcirculation Research Institute, Texas A & M University Health Sciences Center, College Station, Texas, USA

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Medical Physiology, Microcirculation Research Institute, Texas A & M University Health Sciences Center, College Station, Texas, USA

    L. Kuo & M. J. Davis

Authors
  1. C. J. H. Jones
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. L. Kuo
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. M. J. Davis
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. W. M. Chilian
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

About this article

Cite this article

Jones, C.J.H., Kuo, L., Davis, M.J. et al. Myogenic and flow-dependent control mechanisms in the coronary microcirculation. Basic Res Cardiol 88, 2–10 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00788525

Download citation

  • Received:

  • Accepted:

  • Issue Date:

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00788525

Key words

Search

Navigation