CVS 6: Blood vessel order Flashcards
What are the three layers of blood vessels?
- Tunica Adventitia
- Tunica Media
- Tunica Intima
What is found in the tunica adventitia and what is its function?
The EXTERNAL Layer
- contains fibrous tissue, elastin and collagen
- helps keep shape of the blood vessel
What is the tunica media made of and what is its function?
- Predominantly smooth muscle
- can contract or dilate based on the type of stimulus
What is the tunica intima made of and what is its function?
- Vascular endothelium has an elastic basal lamina
- The exchange surface
What is the vascular endothelium?
A single cell layer that acs as the BLOOD-VESSEL interface
Give the five functions of vascular endothelium
- VASCULAR TONE- secretes and metabolises vasoactive substances (which cause vasodilation/constriction)
- THROMBOSTASIS- secretes anti-coagulants, prevents clotting and molecules adhering to vessel walls
- ABSORPTION + SECRETION
- BARRIER- prevents entry of pathogens and prevents atheroma formation
- GROWTH- mediates cell proliferation
What do endothelial cells contain to detect increased blood flow?
Mechanoreceptors
Name the two types of vasodilators and briefly summarise how they work.
- Nitric oxide- inhibits platelet aggregation
2. PG12 (prostacyclin)- cardioprotective molecule which also inhibits platelet aggregation
Name three vasoconstrictors and briefly summarise how they work.
- TXA2 (thromboxane)- produced in endothelial cells and platelets, activates other platelets–> aggregation
- ET-1 (endothelia 1)
- Angiotensin II (ANG II)
What controls vascular tone?
Balance between vasoconstriction and vasodilation
What is special about endothelin-1
Can cause vasoconstriction and vasodilation because it has different receptors on different tissues
What stimulates NO production and how?
Acetylcholine
- It binds to the G protein coupled receptor
- activates Phospholipase C
- PLC converts PIP2=> IP3 and DAG
- IP3 moves to the ER and causes Ca2+ efflux
- A rise in IC Ca2+ up regulates endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS)
- eNOS catalyses formation of NO
Which reaction does eNOS catalyse?
L-arginine + O2==> L-citrulline + NO
How does NO work?
- NO exits the endothelial cell and moves to the smooth muscle
- NO in smooth muscle up-regulates Guanylyl cyclase which converts GTP to CGMP
- cGMP up regulates Protein Kinase G
- PKG activates potassium channels
- membrane hyperpolarises
- Relaxation of smooth muscle
- Vessel dilates
What stimulates endothelial NO?
Shear stress (the force of blood going across the endothelial cells)
What acts as a NO donor?
SNP (Sodium nitroprusside)- we don’t rely on endothelial cells to produce NO. Endothelium is bypassed
Used to control high bp
What is used to convert phospholipids into Arachidonic acid?
Phospholipase A2
What is Arachidonic acid converted to? and using which enzyme?
Prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) by the COX enzymes (cyclooxygenase)- COX1 and COX2
Where is COX 1 found and what do an elevated levels of COX2 indicate?
COX1- expressed on all cells
COX2- unregulated when your body has inflammatory problems
What does PGH2 become and name the enzymes used…
PGH2==>
- Prostacyclin (PGI2)
- Prostacyclin synthase
- Thromboxane A2 (TXA2)
- Thromboxane synthase
- Other produces (PGD2, PGE2 and PGF2)
What is the function of some of the other products produced from PGH2?
Involved in the health of the epithelia and the GI tract