Sympathetic And Sensory-Motor Nerves In Peripheral Small Arteries

C. Aalkjaer*, H. Nilsson, J.G.R. De Mey

*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Contribution to journal(Systematic) Review article peer-review

Abstract

Small arteries, which play important roles in controlling blood flow, blood pressure, and capillary pressure, are under nervous influence. Their innervation is predominantly sympathetic and sensory motor in nature, and while some arteries are densely innervated, others are only sparsely so. Innervation of small arteries is a key mechanism in regulating vascular resistance. In the second half of the previous century, the physiology and pharmacology of this innervation were very actively investigated. In the past 10-20 yr, the activity in this field was more limited. With this review we highlight what has been learned during recent years with respect to development of small arteries and their innervation, some aspects of excitation-release coupling, interaction between sympathetic and sensory-motor nerves, cross talk between endothelium and vascular nerves, and some aspects of their role in vascular inflammation and hypertension. We also highlight what remains to be investigated to further increase our understanding of this fundamental aspect of vascular physiology.
Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)495-544
Number of pages50
JournalPhysiological Reviews
Volume101
Issue number2
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Apr 2021

Keywords

  • blood vessel
  • neurovascular
  • sensory nerves
  • small arteries
  • sympathetic nerves
  • GENE-RELATED PEPTIDE
  • VASCULAR SMOOTH-MUSCLE
  • MESENTERIC RESISTANCE ARTERIES
  • ENDOTHELIUM-INDEPENDENT VASODILATATION
  • CAPSAICIN-SENSITIVE NEURONS
  • TRPA1 RECEPTOR ACTIVATION
  • SPINAL-CORD STIMULATION
  • NEUROPEPTIDE-Y NPY
  • CALCITONIN-GENE
  • SUBSTANCE-P

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