Regulation of vascular tone

Introduction
During its activity the metabolic need of the body (and of each organ) is constantly changing. This is provided for by a precisely regulated blood flow adjusted to the prevailing needs. Tissue perfusion (Q ) is determined by the pressure-gradient (P ) and the vascular resistance (R) (Hagen-Poisseuille law). mean arterial pressure total peripheral resistance resistance of individual organs

Q = P / R R ~ l / r4

Regulation of vascular tone

role of the vascular smooth muscle cells
The change of the resistance of a given organ accommodates the blood supply of a given organ to the prevailing needs. The key step in the regulation is the change in the diameter of the resistance vessels The diameter is set by the decreased tone diameter contractile state (tone) of the decreased resistance smooth muscle cells found in increased tone diameter the vessel wall increased resistance

Regulation of vascular tone

components of vascular tone
After cutting the vasoconstrictor nerves and the addition of smooth muscle relaxant. After cutting the vasoconstrictor nerves.

X X

Under resting conditions. During increased activity of the vasoconstrictor nerves.

Regulation of vascular tone

components of vascular tone basal tone
Contraction arising from the intrinsic activity of smooth muscle cells.

resting vasoconstrictor tone

Contraction due to AP-s ( neurotransmitter release) arriving to the smooth muscle cells on sympathetic nerves under resting conditions.

reflex vasoconstrictor tone

Contraction due to the increase in the number of AP-s arriving on the sympathetic nerves upon the activation of a cardio-vascular reflex.

Regulation of vascular tone

mechanisms of changing the vascular tone Vasodilation occurs if
the basal tone decreases the resting vasoconstrictor tone (if present) decreases vasodilator nerves (if present) are activated

Vasoconstriction occurs if
the basal tone increases the reflexes vasoconstrictor tone increases

Regulation of vascular tone

the basal tone humoral regulation
local metabolites local (endothelial cells) vasoactive substances circulating vasoactive substances

autoregulation (Bayliss-effect)
stretch metabolites

Components of vascular tone

neuronal vazoconstrictor s vasodilator mechanisms sympathetic vasoconstrictor nerves
arteries, arterioles of most organs; veins

sympathetic vasodilator nerves

skeletal muscle, certain glands

parasympathetic vasodilator nerves

in vessels of special areas (erectile tissues, pia mater)

axon-reflex
local regulation

Components of vascular tone

degree of vascular tone in different regions Basal tone
Cerebral vessels Coronaries Skeletal muscle vessels Renal vessels Splanchnic vessels Skin vessels (apical regions) ++++ ++++ ++ + + -

Resting vasoconstrictor tone

++ +++++

Regulation of blood flow

mechanisms of long-term regulation
Change in the degree of vascularity (angiogenesis)
hypoxia angiogenic factors (EDGF, FGF, angiogenin)

Collateral circulation
vein or artery is blocked partial resupply of blood to the affected tissue