Differential effect of pulsatile pressure on the myogenic responses of small arteries

The myogenic response is an important regulatory mechanism under physiological as well as pathophysiological conditions. However, little is known about the myogenic response under pulsatile pressure conditions. Therefore, based on the known mechanisms governing the myogenic response induced by static pressure, we tested the hypothesis that a stronger myogenic response induced by pulsatile pressure is due to a larger increase of the intracellular calcium concentration and/or a higher calcium sensitivity of vessel tone. Rat small tail and gracilis arteries were studied using isobaric myography and FURA-2 fluorimetry. We found that in small tail arteries, the effect of pulsatile pressure on the myogenic response is determined by its systolic pressure, whereas in gracilis arteries, the effect of pulsatile pressure is determined by its mean pressure. Interestingly, the effect of pulsatile pressure on the intracellular calcium concentration in both vessels is determined by its systolic pressure. However, while calcium sensitivity of myogenic tone did not differ between static and pulsatile pressure conditions in small tail arteries, it was weaker under pulsatile pressure than under static pressure in gracilis arteries. In conclusion, a stronger myogenic response under pulsatile pressure conditions, i.e., the capability of a vessel to respond to systolic pressure, requires the vessel's ability to maintain and not lose the calcium sensitivity of myogenic tone compared to static pressure conditions.