Search research articles

ABOUT JoVE

Overview Leadership Blog JoVE Help Center

AUTHORS

Publishing Process Editorial Board Scope & Policies Peer Review FAQ Submit

LIBRARIANS

Testimonials Subscriptions Access Resources Library Advisory Board FAQ

RESEARCH

JoVE Journal Methods Collections JoVE Encyclopedia of Experiments Archive

EDUCATION

JoVE Core JoVE Business JoVE Science Education JoVE Lab Manual Faculty Resource Center Faculty Site

Terms & Conditions of Use

Related Concept Videos

You might also read

Related Articles

Articles linked to this work by shared authors, journal, and citation graph.

Sort by

Same author

Real-Time Prediction of Irreversible Lesion Size During Pulsed Field Ablation: Prospective Validation of a Novel Ablation Index Based on Contact Force and Number of Applications in a Swine Beating Heart Model.

Circulation. Arrhythmia and electrophysiology·2025

Same author

Arteries are finely tuned thermosensors regulating myogenic tone and blood flow.

Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America·2025

Same author

The Antioxidant/Nitric Oxide-Quenching Agent Cobinamide Prevents Aortic Disease in a Mouse Model of Marfan Syndrome.

JACC. Basic to translational science·2024

Same author

A 13.2 mg epinephrine intranasal spray demonstrates comparable pharmacokinetics, pharmacodynamics, and safety to a 0.3 mg epinephrine autoinjector.

The journal of allergy and clinical immunology. Global·2024

Same author

Amiodarone prevents wave front-tail interactions in patients with heart failure: an in silico study.

American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology·2023

Same author

CNS sites controlling the gastric pyloric sphincter: Neuroanatomical and functional study in the rat.

The Journal of comparative neurology·2023

Search research articles

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Transesophageal Atrial Burst Pacing for Atrial Fibrillation Induction in Rats

Transesophageal Atrial Burst Pacing for Atrial Fibrillation Induction in Rats

Published on: February 14, 2022

Rhythmic Aortic Contractions Induced by Electrical Stimulation In Vivo in the Rat.

Niaz Sahibzada¹, Allen W Mangel², Jaclyn E Tatge¹

¹Department of Pharmacology & Physiology, Georgetown University School of Medicine, 3900 Reservoir Road, NW, Washington, DC, 20007, United States of America.

|July 2, 2015

Summary

Large arteries like the aorta may actively contract during the cardiac cycle, challenging the passive "Windkessel" model. This study reveals neural control of these aortic contractions in rats.

More Related Videos

Rat Model of Right-Sided Cardiac Remodeling and Arrhythmia Using Pulmonary Artery Banding

Rat Model of Right-Sided Cardiac Remodeling and Arrhythmia Using Pulmonary Artery Banding

Published on: August 30, 2024

Programmed Electrical Stimulation in Mice

Programmed Electrical Stimulation in Mice

Published on: May 26, 2010

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Apr 7, 2026

Transesophageal Atrial Burst Pacing for Atrial Fibrillation Induction in Rats

Transesophageal Atrial Burst Pacing for Atrial Fibrillation Induction in Rats

Published on: February 14, 2022

Rat Model of Right-Sided Cardiac Remodeling and Arrhythmia Using Pulmonary Artery Banding

Rat Model of Right-Sided Cardiac Remodeling and Arrhythmia Using Pulmonary Artery Banding

Published on: August 30, 2024

Programmed Electrical Stimulation in Mice

Programmed Electrical Stimulation in Mice

Published on: May 26, 2010

Area of Science:

Cardiovascular Physiology
Arterial Mechanics

Background:

The aorta is traditionally viewed as a passive elastic tube, functioning via the "Windkessel" effect.
Previous research suggested active aortic contractions, but these findings were largely overlooked.

Purpose of the Study:

To investigate spontaneous, rhythmic contractions in the rat aorta.
To determine the origin and control mechanisms of these aortic contractions.

Main Methods:

Observation of spontaneous aortic contractions in rats.
Electrical stimulation of the aorta to assess contractile responses.
Pharmacological blockade using tetrodotoxin and phentolamine.

Main Results:

Spontaneous aortic contractions were observed in synchrony with the heartbeat.
Electrical stimulation evoked contractions within the heart rate range.
Contractions were suppressed by tetrodotoxin and phentolamine, indicating neurogenic origin.

Conclusions:

Aortic contractions are active and rhythmic, occurring in synchrony with the heartbeat.
These contractions are of neurogenic origin and under neural control.
Findings challenge the passive "Windkessel" model and suggest active arterial regulation.