Syncytial communication in descending vasa recta includes myoendothelial coupling

Tubuloglomerular Feedback Synchronization in Nephrovascular Networks

To perform their functions, the kidneys maintain stable blood perfusion in the face of fluctuations in systemic BP. This is done through autoregulation of blood flow by the generic myogenic response and the kidney-specific tubuloglomerular feedback (TGF) mechanism. The central theme of this paper is that, to achieve autoregulation, nephrons do not work as single units to manage their individual blood flows, but rather communicate electrically over long distances to other nephrons via the vascular tree. Accordingly, we define the nephrovascular unit (NVU) to be a structure consisting of the nephron, glomerulus, afferent arteriole, and efferent arteriole. We discuss features that require and enable distributed autoregulation mediated by TGF across the kidney. These features include the highly variable topology of the renal vasculature which creates variability in circulation and the potential for mismatch between tubular oxygen demand and delivery; the self-sustained oscillations in each NVU arising from the autoregulatory mechanisms; and the presence of extensive gap junctions formed by connexins and their properties that enable long-distance transmission of TGF signals. The existence of TGF synchronization across the renal microvascular network enables an understanding of how NVUs optimize oxygenation-perfusion matching while preventing transmission of high systemic pressure to the glomeruli, which could lead to progressive glomerular and vascular injury.

Role of Pericytes in the Initiation and Propagation of Spontaneous Activity in the Microvasculature

The microvasculature is composed of arterioles, capillaries and venules. Spontaneous arteriolar constrictions reduce effective vascular resistance to enhance tissue perfusion, while spontaneous venular constrictions facilitate the drainage of tissue metabolites by pumping blood. In the venules of visceral organs, mural cells, i.e. smooth muscle cells (SMCs) or pericytes, periodically generate spontaneous phasic constrictions, Ca²⁺ transients and transient depolarisations. These events arise from spontaneous Ca²⁺ release from the sarco-endoplasmic reticulum (SR/ER) and the subsequent opening of Ca²⁺-activated chloride channels (CaCCs). CaCC-dependent depolarisation further activates L-type voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels (LVDCCs) that play a critical role in maintaining the synchrony amongst mural cells. Mural cells in arterioles or capillaries are also capable of developing spontaneous activity. Non-contractile capillary pericytes generate spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients primarily relying on SR/ER Ca²⁺ release. Synchrony amongst capillary pericytes depends on gap junction-mediated spread of depolarisations resulting from the opening of either CaCCs or T-type VDCCs (TVDCCs) in a microvascular bed-dependent manner. The propagation of capillary Ca²⁺ transients into arterioles requires the opening of either L- or TVDCCs again depending on the microvascular bed. Since the blockade of gap junctions or CaCCs prevents spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients in arterioles and venules but not capillaries, capillary pericytes appear to play a primary role in generating spontaneous activity of the microvasculature unit. Pericytes in capillaries where the interchange of substances between tissues and the circulation takes place may provide the fundamental drive for upstream arterioles and downstream venules so that the microvasculature network functions as an integrated unit.

Role of capillary pericytes in the integration of spontaneous Ca2+ transients in the suburothelial microvasculature in situ of the mouse bladder

KEY POINTS

In the bladder suburothelial microvasculature, pericytes in different microvascular segments develop spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients with or without associated constrictions. Spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients in pericytes of all microvascular segments primarily rely on the cycles of Ca²⁺ uptake and release by the sarco- and endoplasmic reticulum. The synchrony of spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients in capillary pericytes exclusively relies on the spread of depolarizations resulting from the opening of Ca²⁺ -activated chloride channels (CaCCs) via gap junctions. CaCC-dependent depolarizations further activate L-type voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channels as required for the synchrony of Ca²⁺ transients in pericytes of pre-capillary arterioles, post-capillary venules and venules. Capillary pericytes may drive spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients in pericytes within the suburothelial microvascular network by sending CaCC-dependent depolarizations via gap junctions.

ABSTRACT

Mural cells in the microvasculature of visceral organs develop spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients. However, the mechanisms underlying the integration of these Ca²⁺ transients within a microvascular unit remain to be clarified. In the present study, the origin of spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients and their propagation in the bladder suburothelial microvasculature were explored. Cal-520 fluorescence Ca²⁺ imaging and immunohistochemistry were carried out on mural cells using mice expressing red fluorescent protein (DsRed) under control of the NG2 promotor. NG2(+) pericytes in both pre-capillary arterioles (PCAs) and capillaries developed synchronous spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients. By contrast, although NG2-DsRed also labelled arteriolar smooth muscle cells, these cells remained quiescent. Both NG2(+) pericytes in post-capillary venules (PCVs) and NG2(-) venular pericytes exhibited propagated Ca²⁺ transients. L-type voltage-dependent Ca²⁺ channel (LVDCC) blockade with nifedipine prevented Ca²⁺ transients or disrupted their synchrony in PCA, PCV and venular pericytes without dis-synchronizing Ca²⁺ transients in capillary pericytes. Blockade of gap junctions with carbenoxolone or Ca²⁺ -activated chloride channels (CaCCs) with 4,4'-diisothiocyanato-2,2'-stilbenedisulphonic acid disodium salt prevented Ca²⁺ transients in PCA and venular pericytes and disrupted the synchrony of Ca²⁺ transients in capillary and PCV pericytes. Spontaneous Ca²⁺ transients in pericytes of all microvascular segments were abolished or suppressed by cyclopiazonic acid, caffeine or tetracaine. The synchrony of Ca²⁺ transients in capillary pericytes arising from spontaneous Ca²⁺ release from the sarco- and endoplasmic reticulum appears to rely exclusively on CaCC activation, whereas subsequent LVDCC activation is required for the synchrony of Ca²⁺ transients in pericytes of other microvascular segments. Capillary pericytes may drive spontaneous activity in the suburothelial microvascular unit to facilitate capillary perfusion.

Vascular Compartmentalization of Functional Hyperemia from the Synapse to the Pia

Functional hyperemia, a regional increase of blood flow triggered by local neural activation, is used to map brain activity in health and disease. However, the spatial-temporal dynamics of functional hyperemia remain unclear. Two-photon imaging of the entire vascular arbor in NG2-creERT2;GCaMP6f mice shows that local synaptic activation, measured via oligodendrocyte precursor cell (OPC) Ca²⁺ signaling, generates a synchronous Ca²⁺ drop in pericytes and smooth muscle cells (SMCs) enwrapping all upstream vessels feeding the activated synapses. Surprisingly, the onset timing, direction, and amplitude of vessel diameter and blood velocity changes vary dramatically from juxta-synaptic capillaries back to the pial arteriole. These results establish a precise spatial-temporal sequence of vascular changes triggered by neural activity and essential for the interpretation of blood-flow-based imaging techniques such as BOLD-fMRI.

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Odor triggers rapid Ca²⁺ elevations in OPC process that are input specific

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All pericyte subtypes and SMCs respond to downstream synaptic activation

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Synchronous mural cell activation is associated with heterogeneous local hemodynamics

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The arteriole and first-order capillary dilate first and form the primary functional unit

Descending Vasa Recta Endothelial Membrane Potential Response Requires Pericyte Communication

Using dual-cell electrophysiological recording, we examined the routes for equilibration of membrane potential between the pericytes and endothelia that comprise the descending vasa recta (DVR) wall. We measured equilibration between pericytes in intact vessels, between pericytes and endothelium in intact vessels and between pericytes physically separated from the endothelium. Dual pericyte recording on the abluminal surface of DVR showed that both resting potential and subsequent time-dependent voltage fluctuations after vasoconstrictor stimulation remained closely equilibrated, regardless of the agonist employed (angiotensin II, vasopressin or endothelin 1). When pericytes where removed from the vessel wall but retained physical contact with one another, membrane potential responses were also highly coordinated. In contrast, responses of pericytes varied independently when they were isolated from both the endothelium and from contact with one another. When pericytes and endothelium were in contact, their resting potentials were similar and their temporal responses to stimulation were highly coordinated. After completely isolating pericytes from the endothelium, their mean resting potentials became discordant. Finally, complete endothelial isolation eliminated all membrane potential responses to angiotensin II. We conclude that cell-to-cell transmission through the endothelium is not needed for pericytes to equilibrate their membrane potentials. AngII dependent responses of DVR endothelia may originate from gap junction coupling to pericytes rather than via receptor dependent signaling in the endothelium, per se.

Spontaneous activity in the microvasculature of visceral organs: role of pericytes and voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels

The microvasculature plays a primary role in the interchange of substances between tissues and the circulation. In visceral organs that undergo considerable distension upon filling, the microvasculature appears to display intrinsic contractile properties to maintain their flow. Submucosal venules in the bladder or gastrointestinal tract generate rhythmic spontaneous phasic constrictions and associated Ca(2+) transients. These events are initiated within either venular pericytes or smooth muscle cells (SMCs) arising from spontaneous Ca(2+) release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and the opening of Ca(2+) -activated chloride channels (CaCCs) that trigger Ca(2+) influx through L-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+) channels (VDCCs). L-type VDCCs also play a critical role in maintaining synchrony within the contractile mural cells. In the stomach myenteric layer, spontaneous Ca(2+) transients originating in capillary pericytes appear to spread to their neighbouring arteriolar SMCs. Capillary Ca(2+) transients primarily rely on SR Ca(2+) release, but also require Ca(2+) influx through T-type VDCCs for their synchrony. The opening of T-type VDCCs also contribute to the propagation of Ca(2+) transients into SMCs. In visceral microvasculature, pericytes act as either spontaneously active contractile machinery of the venules or as pacemaker cells generating synchronous Ca(2+) transients that drive spontaneous contractions in upstream arterioles. Thus pericytes play different roles in different vascular beds in a manner that may well depend on the selective expression of T-type and L-type Ca(2+) channels.