nervous and hormonal control of vascular tone Flashcards
What are the 2 types of vascular control?
- Local control
○ Myogenic responses
○ Paracrine and autoregulation agents
○ Physical factors
2. Extrinsic control ○ Parasympathetic ○ Sympathetic ○ Sensory vasodilator nerves ○ Sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerves
Others
What is the importance of intrinsic controls?
Regulates local blood flow to organs and tissues
aka regional hyperaemia
What is the importance of extrinsic controls?
- Regulates TPR to control blood pressure
- Brain function selectively alters blood flow to organs/tissues where needed
For example more blood flow is required to muscles during exercise - Nerves:
• Vasodilator (acetylcholine + nitric oxide)
• Vasoconstrictor (noradrenaline) - Hormones
• Vasodilator (ANP)
- Vasoconstrictor (vasopressin + adrenaline + angiotensin II)
What is the most widespread and important extrinsic control?
Sympathetic vasoconstrictor system
Describe how the sympathetic innervation of arterioles leads to NA release and explain the different outcomes
- An action potential moves down the axon and arrives at the varicosity; innervating the adventitia
- Depolarisation occurs at varicosity, activating the voltage gated calcium channels
- This causes an influx of calcium ions
- Influx of Ca2+ = release of neurotransmitter (noradrenaline-NA)
- NA diffuses to vascular smooth muscle, and binds to:
• Mainly alpha-1 = contraction
• Some alpha-2 = contraction
• Some beta-2 = relaxation
These responses are modulated during vasoconstriction and vasodilation - NA is then taken back up again and is either recycled OR broken down
Adrenaline that is released from the adrenal glands and released into the bloodstream can also act as alpha-1 or beta-2 receptors
Describe what happens at varicosity in detail
• Release of NA can be modulated by angiotensin II (+)
• Angiotensin II binds to AT1 receptors = increase in cAMP = increases calcium influx via voltage gated calcium channels = more NA released = increased vasoconstriction
• Some metabolites prevent vasoconstriction by negatively regulating cAMP = less NA release = less vasoconstriction = more blood flow
These metabolites include:
1. Serotonin
2. K+
3. Adenosine
4. Histamine
• NA can also inhibit it’s own release by binding to alpha-2 receptors
More NA = more vasoconstriction = less blood flow
Less NA = less vasoconstriction = more blood flow
What are the sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerves controlled by?
Controlled by the brainstem
Rostral ventrolateral medulla (RVLM) – this is controlled by other areas, Caudal ventrolateral medulla (CVLM) & hypothalamus.
Provides central control of blood flow/blood pressure
What causes arteriole and venues vasoconstriction?
NA binds to alpha-1 receptors on vascular smooth muscle causing vasoconstriction
Why is a decrease in sympathetic activity important?
Decrease in sympathetic activity producing vasodilatation is an important principle in pharmacological treatment
of cardiovascular disease, eg. Hypertension.
What are the main roles of the sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerves
- Contract resistance arterioles
Produces vascular tone allows vasodilatation/increased blood flow to occur, controls TPR.- Distinct RVLM neurones-sympathetic pathways innervate different tissues
Switching on vasoconstriction in some vessels and off in other vessels (producing vasodilation)
eg. exercise, increased sympathetic nerve stimulation to GI (less blood flow), reduce sympathetic nerve stimulation to skin (more blood flow, cool down). - Pre-capillary vasoconstriction
Leads to downstream capillary pressure drop so increased absorption of interstitial fluid into blood plasma to maintain blood volume (important in hypovolemia). - Control TPR
Maintains arterial blood pressure and blood flow to brain/myocardium since Pa = CO x TPR - Controls venous blood volume
Venoconstriction leads to decreased venous blood volume increasing venous return, this increases stroke volume via Starling’s law.
- Distinct RVLM neurones-sympathetic pathways innervate different tissues
What is an example of a sympathetic vasodilator nerve?
Sensory vasodilator fibres (nociceptive C fibres)
However, body mainly uses parasympathetic vasodilator nerves
Where are the parasympathetic vasodilator nerves founds?
- Salivary glands
Release Ach and VIP- Pancreas and intestinal mucosa
Release VIP
Both these tissues need high blood flow to maintain fluid secretion - Male genitalia
Release NO via parasympathetic nerves = production of cGMP = vasodilation
- Pancreas and intestinal mucosa
What is Sildenafil and how does it affect parasympathetic vasodilator nerves?
Viagra
Enhances the effect of NO on erectile tissues by inhibiting breakdown of cGMP
Where are the sympathetic vasodilator nerves found and how do they work?
Skin
Release Ach and VIP = vasodilation via NO = increases blood flow = increase sweat= heat loss via skin
What is the effect of the sympathetic vasoconstrictors on the skin?
Reduce blood flow = less sweat = limits heat loss
Emotional centres in the brain have control over the structures involved in blushing
Describe the effect of stimulation of sensory (nociceptive C fibres) vasodilator fibres
The stimulation of the sensory axon reflex occurs by trauma and infection
They release a substance called substance P or calcitonin gene related peptide (CGRP)
This acts on mast cells to release histamine. It also acts on the endothelium and vascular smooth muscle
Both histamine and CGRP produce vasodilation = flare on skin