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Neurovascular alignment in adult rat mesenteric microvascular networks
Author(s) -
Stapor Peter C,
Murfee Walter Lee
Publication year - 2010
Publication title -
the faseb journal
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.709
H-Index - 277
eISSN - 1530-6860
pISSN - 0892-6638
DOI - 10.1096/fasebj.24.1_supplement.774.23
Subject(s) - arteriole , venule , neurovascular bundle , microcirculation , anatomy , pericyte , biology , medicine , endothelial stem cell , biochemistry , in vitro
An emerging area of microvascular research focuses on the link between neural and vascular patterning. The link is supported by overlapping molecular signals, however, the spatial and temporal coordination between the two systems at the microcirculation level in the adult remains under‐investigated. The objective of this study was to quantify the neurovascular alignment across the hierarchy of adult microvascular networks containing both systems. Mesentery tissues were harvested from 340–440 g male Wistar rats and immunolabeled for PECAM, an endothelial cell marker, and NG2, a vascular pericyte marker, which also identifies nerves. From four microvascular networks, neurovascular alignment was quantified per five vessel categories: arterioles (>20 μm), pre‐capillary arterioles (10–20 μm), capillaries (<10 μm), post‐capillary venules (10–20 μm), and venules (>20 μm). Blood vessels and nerves were considered aligned when they were within 10 μm of each other for at least 50 μm. 52% of the total vascular length aligned with nerves. 97% of the arteriole length, 74% of pre‐capillary arteriole length, 38% of the capillary length, 57% of the post‐capillary venule length, and 76% of the venule length aligned with nerves. The observations suggest that neurovascular alignment exists in adult rat microvascular networks, and establish a model to investigate the functional coordination between both systems.