文摘
Postcapillary venules (PCVs) play a critical role in regulating capillary hydrostatic pressure, but their contractile mechanisms are not well understood. We examined the properties of spontaneous vasomotion and corresponding Ca2+ transients in gastric PCV. In the rat gastric submucosa, changes in PCV diameter and intracellular Ca2+ dynamics were visualised by video tracking system and fluorescent Ca2+ imaging, respectively, while PCV morphology was examined by immunohistochemistry. Stellate-shaped PCV mural cells expressing α-smooth muscle actin exhibited synchronised spontaneous Ca2+ transients to develop vasomotion which was abolished by nifedipine (1 μM), cyclopiazonic acid (10 μM), or Ca2+-activated Cl− channel inhibitors (100 μM niflumic acid, 1 μM T16Ainh-A01). A gap junction blocker (3 μM carbenoxolone) disrupted the synchrony of spontaneous Ca2+ transients amongst PCV mural cells and attenuated spontaneous vasomotion. Low chloride solution ([Cl−]0 = 12.4 mM) also disrupted the synchrony of spontaneous Ca2+ transients and abolished vasomotion. Na+-K+-Cl− co-transporter inhibitors (10 μM bumetanide, 30 μM furosemide) suppressed spontaneous Ca2+ transients and vasoconstrictions. A phosphodiesterase type 5 (PDE5) inhibitor (1 μM tadalafil) disrupted the spontaneous Ca2+ transient synchrony and abolished vasomotion in a nitric oxide (NO)-dependent manner. Thus, gastric PCVs exhibit spontaneous vasomotion, resulting from synchronised spontaneous Ca2+ transients within a network of stellate-shaped PCV mural cells. An active Cl− accumulation partly via Na+-K+-Cl− co-transport appears to be fundamental in maintaining depolarisation upon the opening of Ca2+-activated Cl− channels that triggers Ca2+ influx via voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ channels. Basal PDE5 activity may continuously counteract vaso-relaxing effects of endothelial NO to maintain spontaneous vasomotion.