Jove
Visualize
Contact Us
JoVE
x logofacebook logolinkedin logoyoutube logo
ABOUT JoVE
OverviewLeadershipBlogJoVE Help Center
AUTHORS
Publishing ProcessEditorial BoardScope & PoliciesPeer ReviewFAQSubmit
LIBRARIANS
TestimonialsSubscriptionsAccessResourcesLibrary Advisory BoardFAQ
RESEARCH
JoVE JournalMethods CollectionsJoVE Encyclopedia of ExperimentsArchive
EDUCATION
JoVE CoreJoVE BusinessJoVE Science EducationJoVE Lab ManualFaculty Resource CenterFaculty Site
Terms & Conditions of Use
Privacy Policy
Policies

Related Concept Videos

The Blood-brain Barrier00:49

The Blood-brain Barrier

50.9K
Overview
50.9K
Capillaries and Their Types01:20

Capillaries and Their Types

6.7K
Capillaries, a crucial constituent of the circulatory system, are diminutive vessels with a diameter between 5–10 micrometers, accommodating perfusion to the tissues through the phenomenon known as microcirculation. Through their permeable walls, consisting of an endothelial layer ensconced by a basement membrane and sporadically dispersed smooth muscle fibers, the exchange of substances between the blood and the interstitial fluid becomes plausible. Variance in wall composition exists,...
6.7K
Capillary Beds01:20

Capillary Beds

6.0K
Capillary beds are networks of tiny blood vessels that play a crucial role in the circulatory system. These beds are where the exchange of gases, nutrients, and waste products occurs between the blood and surrounding tissues. Each capillary bed consists of numerous capillaries, which are the smallest blood vessels in the body, typically only one cell-thick. This thinness allows for the efficient diffusion of substances.
Capillaries connect arterioles, small branches of arteries, to venules,...
6.0K
Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells01:31

Nervous Tissue: Glial Cells

5.7K
Glia, or neuroglia, are vital support cells that assist neurons in their functions. The term "glia" originates from the Greek word for "glue," reflecting their role in holding the nervous system together. These cells can be categorized into six types: four in the central nervous system (CNS) and two in the peripheral nervous system (PNS).
The CNS glial cell includes the astrocytes, the oligodendrocytes, the microglia, and the ependymal cells.
Astrocytes are star-shaped glial...
5.7K
Neuron Structure01:30

Neuron Structure

16.5K
Neurons are the main type of cell in the nervous system that generate and transmit electrochemical signals. They primarily communicate with each other using neurotransmitters at specific junctions called synapses. Neurons come in many shapes that often relate to their function, but most share three main structures: an axon and dendrites that extend out from a cell body.
Structure and Function of Neurons
The neuronal cell body—the soma— houses the nucleus and organelles vital to...
16.5K
Mechanism of Angiogenesis01:10

Mechanism of Angiogenesis

6.3K
Blood vessel formation starts early during embryonic development, around day 7. In the extraembryonic yolk sac, mesodermal precursor cells called hemangioblast proliferate and differentiate into angioblast. Angioblasts express vascular endothelial growth factor receptor 2 or VEGFR2, which binds VEGF-A, a proangiogenic factor, guiding blood vessel formation. VEGF signaling promotes angioblasts to form a blood island in the developing embryo. Angioblasts further differentiate, giving rise to...
6.3K

You might also read

Related Articles

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

Sort by
Same author

Ca<sup>2+</sup>-Activated Cl<sup>-</sup> Channels: Do Bestrophins and TMEM16A Interact?

Acta physiologica (Oxford, England)·2026
Same author

Tsunamis hiding in plain sight: spreading depression in clinical neurology.

Nature reviews. Neurology·2026
Same author

Guidelines for evaluating endothelial function in vascular tissue.

American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology·2026
Same author

Exploring the potential of explainable deep learning for EEG-based cognitive decline prediction.

Computers in biology and medicine·2026
Same author

Unmasking the bias: Can diffusion-weighted imaging reliably assess glymphatic function in awake and anesthetized brain?

NeuroImage·2026
Same author

Pericyte and Endothelial Primary Cilia and Centrioles have Disparate Organization Across the Brain Microvasculature.

bioRxiv : the preprint server for biology·2025

Related Experiment Video

Updated: Nov 22, 2025

A High Output Method to Isolate Cerebral Pericytes from Mouse
06:49

A High Output Method to Isolate Cerebral Pericytes from Mouse

Published on: January 14, 2020

8.8K

Brain capillary pericytes and neurovascular coupling.

Søren Grubb1, Martin Lauritzen2, Christian Aalkjær3

  • 1Department of Neuroscience, Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Copenhagen, DK-2200 Copenhagen N, Denmark.

Comparative Biochemistry and Physiology. Part A, Molecular & Integrative Physiology
|January 8, 2021
PubMed
Summary

Mural cells in cerebral blood vessels control blood flow by regulating vessel diameter. Understanding their structure and excitation-contraction coupling is key to neurovascular coupling.

Keywords:
Arterioles smooth muscle neuron astrocyte sphincter

More Related Videos

Culture of Brain Capillary Pericytes for Cytosolic Calcium Measurements and Calcium Imaging Studies
09:33

Culture of Brain Capillary Pericytes for Cytosolic Calcium Measurements and Calcium Imaging Studies

Published on: May 27, 2020

5.2K
Ex Vivo Pressurized Hippocampal Capillary-Parenchymal Arteriole Preparation for Functional Study
09:15

Ex Vivo Pressurized Hippocampal Capillary-Parenchymal Arteriole Preparation for Functional Study

Published on: December 18, 2019

7.2K

Related Experiment Videos

Last Updated: Nov 22, 2025

A High Output Method to Isolate Cerebral Pericytes from Mouse
06:49

A High Output Method to Isolate Cerebral Pericytes from Mouse

Published on: January 14, 2020

8.8K
Culture of Brain Capillary Pericytes for Cytosolic Calcium Measurements and Calcium Imaging Studies
09:33

Culture of Brain Capillary Pericytes for Cytosolic Calcium Measurements and Calcium Imaging Studies

Published on: May 27, 2020

5.2K
Ex Vivo Pressurized Hippocampal Capillary-Parenchymal Arteriole Preparation for Functional Study
09:15

Ex Vivo Pressurized Hippocampal Capillary-Parenchymal Arteriole Preparation for Functional Study

Published on: December 18, 2019

7.2K

Area of Science:

  • Neuroscience
  • Physiology
  • Vascular Biology

Background:

  • Neurovascular coupling links brain activity to blood flow.
  • Cerebral blood flow is regulated by capillaries and precapillary arterioles.
  • Mural cells, including pericytes and smooth muscle cells, control vessel diameter.

Observation:

  • The tone of mural cells dictates the diameter of cerebral blood vessels.
  • Mural cells exhibit diverse phenotypes, ranging from pericytes to smooth muscle cells.
  • Excitation-contraction coupling in mural cells is a critical mechanism for blood flow control.

Findings:

  • This discussion focuses on the structural characteristics of cerebral blood vessels.
  • The study explores the excitation-contraction coupling mechanisms within mural cells.
  • Mural cell tone is the primary determinant of cerebral blood flow.

Implications:

  • Understanding mural cell function can lead to new therapeutic strategies for cerebrovascular disorders.
  • Elucidating the structure and function of these cells enhances our knowledge of brain hemodynamics.
  • This research provides insights into the cellular basis of cerebral blood flow regulation.