Developmental influences on vascular structure and function

Blood vessels with apparently similar structures show remarkable functional heterogeneity. Differences exist in the nature and extent of their innervation, synaptic architecture, receptor characteristics, excitation coupling systems, capacity for intrinsic tone, contractility, elasticity and calcium-pool dependence, to mention only a few variables. The underlying basis of these differences is unknown. Similarity between the distribution of particular features in the vascular bed and the early patterns of embryological development suggest that some specific functional characteristics are determined during the process of gastrulation, if not before. Examples are given of receptor characteristics and tissue sensitivity that seem to reflect the different mesenchymal origins of particular vessels. Studies on vessels from immature fetal lambs confirm that individuality of specific vessels is established early. Interruption of sympathetic nerve traffic influences the function of vascular smooth muscle cells in a complex manner which is expressed differently at different ages. If the findings of experiments on the ear artery of the rabbit reveal a general principle seen in the circulation, then the level of sympathetic nerve traffic during growth would be expected to influence both qualitatively and quantitatively the structure and reactivity of the adult circulation. By this effect the sympathetic nervous system exerts a long-term influence on blood pressure. The characteristics of a particular blood vessel in the adult depend on many factors such as the level of blood pressure and the amplitude of the pulse wave which are not discussed in this chapter. These studies show that the character of the mature vessels also reflects influences that occur during early development and growth.