The endothelium, a monolayer of endothelial cells, constitutes the inner cellular lining of the
blood vessels (arteries, veins and capillaries) and the lymphatic system, and therefore is in …

The endothelium controls vascular tone not only by releasing nitric oxide (NO) and
prostacyclin but also by other pathways causing hyperpolarization of the underlying smooth …

Major features of the transcellular signaling mechanism responsible for endothelium-
dependent regulation of vascular smooth muscle tone are unresolved. We identified local …

Direct intercellular communication via gap junctions is critical in the control and coordination
of vascular function. In the cardiovascular system, gap junctions are made up of one or more …

Background: Impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation is a hallmark of obesity-induced
hypertension. The recognition that Ca2+ signaling in endothelial cells promotes vasodilation …

Endothelial cell dysfunction, characterized by a diminished response to endothelial cell–
dependent vasodilators, is a hallmark of hypertension. TRPV4 channels play a major role in …

Calcium (Ca2+) release through inositol 1, 4, 5-trisphosphate receptors (IP3Rs) regulates
the function of virtually every mammalian cell. Unlike ryanodine receptors, which generate …

The three subtypes of calcium‐activated potassium channels (KCa) of large, intermediate
and small conductance (BKCa, IKCa and SKCa) are present in the vascular wall. In healthy …

Understanding the control mechanisms of blood flow within the vasculature of skeletal
muscle is clearly fascinating from a theoretical point of view due to the extremely tight …

Of the 21 members of the connexin family, 4 (Cx37, Cx40, Cx43, and Cx45) are expressed in
the endothelium and/or smooth muscle of intact blood vessels to a variable and dynamically …