Statements in which the resource exists as a subject.
PredicateObject
rdf:type
lifeskim:mentions
pubmed:issue
2
pubmed:dateCreated
1989-8-31
pubmed:abstractText
The area postrema is a circumventricular organ that plays an important role in neurohumoral regulation of the circulation. We have developed a method to examine permeability and vascular responses of the microcirculation of the area postrema in vivo. A craniotomy was performed over the dorsal brain stem in anesthetized rats, and blood vessels to the area postrema were visualized with fluorescein microscopy. Extravasation of sodium fluorescein (MW, 386), but not 150 kDa (MW) fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextran, occurred in the area postrema under control conditions. There was no extravasation of fluorescein or dextran in the brain stem under control conditions. Acute hypertension produced marked disruption of the barrier to 150 kDa dextran in the area postrema, compared with minimal disruption in the brain stem. We tested the hypothesis that the area postrema has greater permeability to small molecules than the brain stem and that this permeability might be accompanied by distinctive vascular responses. Topical suffusion of adenosine and ADP produced similar dose-related dilation of arterioles to area postrema and dorsal brain stem. Topical and intravenous vasopressin produced similar dose-related constriction of vessels to area postrema and brain stem. Electron microscopy in rats demonstrated that a barrier to horseradish peroxidase, which is absent in capillaries in the area postrema, is present in arterioles that supply the area postrema.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)
pubmed:grant
pubmed:language
eng
pubmed:journal
pubmed:citationSubset
IM
pubmed:chemical
pubmed:status
MEDLINE
pubmed:month
Aug
pubmed:issn
0009-7330
pubmed:author
pubmed:issnType
Print
pubmed:volume
65
pubmed:owner
NLM
pubmed:authorsComplete
Y
pubmed:pagination
417-25
pubmed:dateRevised
2007-11-14
pubmed:meshHeading
pubmed:year
1989
pubmed:articleTitle
Microcirculation of the area postrema. Permeability and vascular responses.
pubmed:affiliation
Department of Internal Medicine, University of Iowa College of Medicine, Iowa City 52242.
pubmed:publicationType
Journal Article, Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S., Research Support, U.S. Gov't, Non-P.H.S., Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't