Related Experiment Video
Updated: Jun 15, 2026

Isolation of Pulmonary Artery Smooth Muscle Cells from Neonatal Mice
Published on: October 19, 2013
Developmental regulation of oxygen sensing and ion channels in the pulmonary vasculature
1Divisions of Pediatric Pulmonary, Allergy, and Critical Care Medicine, Stanford University Medical School Medicine, 770 Welch Road, Suite 350, Stanford, CA, 94305, USA. cornfield@stanford.edu
Abstract:
The increase in oxygen tension occurring at birth causes sustained and progressive pulmonary vasodilation. The oxygen-induced perinatal pulmonary vasodilation depends on the production of nitric oxide (NO) from the pulmonary endothelium and activation of various K(+) channels in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells. This chapter reviews a) the oxygen-sensing mechanism that stimulates endothelial NO production; b) how K(+) channels sense changes in oxygen tension; c) whether hypoxia-inducible factor-1alpha (HIF-1alpha), a well defined hypoxia-sensitive transcription factor in adult, contributes to the regulation of NO production and K(+) channel activation; and d) whether and how dysfunctional K(+) channels contribute to the development of pulmonary hypertension in the newborns.
Related Concept Videos
Physiological Control of Respiration
Breathing, a seemingly passive process, is regulated by the respiratory center in the brainstem. This center coordinates the involuntary control of respirations, which means it occurs without conscious effort, ensuring a smooth and uninterrupted pattern.
Regulation of Ventilation
The body maintains ventilation by monitoring levels of carbon dioxide (CO2), oxygen (O2), and hydrogen ion concentration (pH) in the arterial blood. Among these factors, the level of CO2 plays a crucial...
Regulation of Angiogenesis and Blood Supply
Chemical Factors Affecting Respiration Centers
CO2 has a potent influence on respiration and is strictly regulated. Under...
Autoregulation of Blood Flow
Chemical Signaling in Autoregulation
Chemical signaling operates at the precapillary sphincter level, inciting either contraction or relaxation.
Oxygen Transport in the Blood
Respiratory Regulation of Acid-Base Balance
When carbon dioxide levels increase in the blood, more H+ and HCO3⁻ are produced, leading to a...
