Absence of flow-mediated vasodilation in the rabbit femoral artery

P. S. Clifford, J. A. Madden, J. J. Hamann, J. B. Buckwalter, Z. Valic

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

3 Scopus citations

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine if there is flowmediated vasodilation of the femoral artery in response to progressive increases in flow within a physiological range observed in the in vivo experiments. Femoral artery blood flow was determined in conscious rabbits (n=5) using chronically implanted flowprobes. Resting blood flow was 8.3±0.6 ml/min and increased to 39.9±5.4 ml/min during high intensity exercise. Femoral arteries (n=12, 1705±43 μm outer diameter) harvested from a separate group of rabbits were mounted on cannulas and diameter was continuously monitored by video system. Functional integrity of the endothelium was tested with acetylcholine. The arteries were set at a transmural pressure of 100 mm Hg and preconstricted with phenylephrine to 73±3 % of initial diameter. Using a roller pump with pressure held constant, the arteries were perfused intraluminally with warmed, oxygenated Krebs' solution (pH=7.4) over a physiological range of flows up to 35 ml/min. As flow increased from 5 ml/min to 35 ml/min, diameter decreased significantly (p<0.05) from 1285±58 μm to 1100±49 μm. Thus, in vessels with a functional endothelium, increasing intraluminal flow over a physiological range of flows produced constriction, not dilation. Based on these results, it seems unlikely that flow-mediated vasodilation in the rabbit femoral artery contributes to exercise hyperemia.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)331-338
Number of pages8
JournalPhysiological Research
Volume59
Issue number3
StatePublished - 2010
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Blood flow
  • Conduit vessel
  • Endothelium
  • Skeletal muscle

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