Vascular Smooth Muscle Flashcards
Vascular smooth muscle is found in which vessels, and more importantly, NOT found in which?
Arteries, arterioles, veins, and some venules
NOT IN CAPILLARIES!!
What are pericytes? Where are they found?
Contractile cells that wrap around the endothelial cells of capillaries and venules throughout body
What specific part of which vessel contains the greatest relative abundance of vascular smooth muscle?
Terminal arterioles (which also have the least elastic tissue of the vessels containing it)
How are smooth muscle cells arranged around arterioles?
Cocentrically
True or false: Multiple neurotransmitters can be co-released from a nueronal varicosity
True (varicosity= swelling)
(High/Low) density of sympathetic adrenergic varicosities are in arterioles
High
Which vessels are devoid of sympathetic innervation?
Capillaries, postcapillary venules, and small venules
Are sympathetic adrenergic varicosities close to vascular smooth muscle?
Yes, they can be
Sympathetic varicosities release multiple neurotransmitters near smooth muscle. List the important 3.
- Norepinephrine
- ATP
- Neuropeptide Y
Net effect of Norepinephrine release
alpha1 adrenergic receptor –> PIP2 cascade –> increase [IP3] –> SR Ca release –> vasoconstriction
Net effect of ATP release
Purinergic receptor P2x –> ligand gated Ca channel –> Ca influx –> vasoconstriction
Net effect of Nueropeptide Y (NPY) release
NPY receptor Y1R –> inhibits adenyl cyclase and activates phospholipase C–> decreases basal PKA –> vasoconstriction
(indirectly allows for more contraction, because PKA isn’t around to phosphorylate and thus inhibit MLCK. MLCK is needed for contraction)
PKA dependent phosphorylation of MLCK (inhibits/activates) MLCK. How?
Phosphorylation inhibits MLCK–reduces MLCK’s affinity for Ca-calmodulin
What occurs wen MLCK is inhibited?
no contraction of vascular smooth muscle –> vasodilation
In which type of vessel can contraction of a single smooth muscle reduce vessel diameter?
Precapillary arteriole
What is the effect of contraction of a single smooth muscle cell on mesenteric artery’s diameter?
No effect. (mesenteric supplies intestines and pancreas–dont need to supply them/digest when running from mammoth!)
The sympathetic nervous system promotes (vasodilation/vasoconstriction) through ___-adrenoceptor mediated elevation of intracellular Ca.
alpha1
Note: The source of Ca may vary depending on arterial region
RyR
ryanodine receptor-mediates release of Ca from the SR, essential step in muscle contraction
Little/many smooth muscles are needed to surround a mesenteric artery
many
the alpha1-AR signaling pathway for the mesenteric artery involves Ca influx and release form which two sources?
RYR and the InsP3R
What can inhibit the Ca response in smooth muscles cells surrounding a mesenteric artery?
Activation of endothelial cells
What activates myosin light chain kinase (MLCK)?
Calcium
What inhibits MLCK?
cAMP, and phosphorylation
Does vasoconstriction and vasodilation of vascular smooth muscle require depolarization?
NO! It an occur with or without depolarization