Vascular smooth muscle and nitric oxide
Related Experiment Video
Updated: Nov 7, 2026

Isolation of Intrapulmonary Artery and Smooth Muscle Cells to Investigate Vascular Responses
Published on: June 8, 2022
M Zehetgruber1, A Conforto, R J Bing
1Department of Experimental Cardiology, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Pasadena, CA 91105.
Abstract:
Experiments were performed to investigate the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF or nitric oxide; NO) by vascular smooth muscle cells. The lumen of bovine pulmonary arteries were filled with Krebs-Henseleit solution (incubates). Both endothelium-intact and endothelium-deprived vessels were used. Incubate solutions from the lumen of generator vessels contained a significant amount of nitric oxide (NO). Although the NO concentration was higher in incubates from endothelium-intact vessels, endothelium-deprived vessels also produced NO. The length of incubation did not influence the amount of nitric oxide released. Endothelium-deprived pulmonary arteries also generated NO as detected by chemiluminescence. The amount produced however was not sufficient to relax endothelium-deprived detector vessels in superfusion bioassay experiments. Samples from Krebs-Henseleit (K-H) solution surrounding the preparation (bathing solution) contained NO values which were also significantly higher than the control. Nitric oxide found in the bathing solution also appeared to originate from endothelium and vascular smooth muscle. Oxyhemoglobin attenuated NO signals. The results demonstrate that nitric oxide is released by vascular smooth muscle cells as well as by endothelium. However, the amount of NO released by muscle is insufficient to relax endothelium-deprived vascular preparations.
More Related Videos
09:47Measurement of Endothelium-Dependent Vasorelaxation in the Mouse Thoracic Aorta Using Tensometric Small Volume Chamber Myography
Published on: August 12, 2022
08:41Assessment of Vascular Tone Responsiveness using Isolated Mesenteric Arteries with a Focus on Modulation by Perivascular Adipose Tissues
Published on: June 3, 2019
Related Concept Videos
Nitric Oxide Signaling Pathway
Antihypertensive Drugs: Vasodilators
Functions of Smooth Muscles
Function of visceral smooth muscles
Visceral smooth muscle is found in the walls of all hollow organs, except the heart, and is a key player in the involuntary movements that drive the functioning of these internal organs. This tissue is arranged in...
Structure of Blood Vessels
Autoregulation of Blood Flow
Chemical Signaling in Autoregulation
Chemical signaling operates at the precapillary sphincter level, inciting either contraction or relaxation.
Smooth Muscle Contraction
The onset of contraction is triggered by an increase in calcium ions within the sarcoplasm, similar to the process in striated muscle. However, smooth muscles have a relatively smaller reservoir of the sarcoplasmic...