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NHE1 knockout reduces blood pressure and arterial media/lumen ratio with no effect on resting pH i in the vascular wall
Author(s) -
Boedtkjer Ebbe,
Damkier Helle H.,
Aalkjaer Christian
Publication year - 2012
Publication title -
the journal of physiology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.802
H-Index - 240
eISSN - 1469-7793
pISSN - 0022-3751
DOI - 10.1113/jphysiol.2011.227132
Subject(s) - knockout mouse , chemistry , vascular smooth muscle , endocrinology , medicine , acetylcholine , intracellular ph , vasoconstriction , wild type , mesenteric arteries , artery , biology , smooth muscle , biochemistry , extracellular , receptor , gene , mutant
Key points • Small arteries are important for regulation of blood pressure and local blood flow. • Changes in intracellular pH alter artery tone although the mechanistic background has been unclear. • Using knockout mice for Na + /H + exchanger NHE1 with reduced acid extrusion from cells in the arterial wall and low intracellular pH in the absence of CO 2 /HCO 3 ‐ , we show that intracellular acidification alters enzymatic activity and consequently artery dilatation and contraction. • Although lack of NHE1 does not affect intracellular pH in the arterial wall when CO 2 /HCO 3 − is present, arteries from NHE1 knockout mice have thinner walls and produce less active force due to reduced volume and cross‐sectional area of individual smooth muscle cells. • These results highlight the interplay between intracellular pH and artery function, provide new targets to consider for modulating artery structure, and underscore the need to evaluate acid–base transport in conditions of vascular disease and blood pressure disturbances.