Syncytial communication in descending vasa recta includes myoendothelial coupling.

Syncytial communication in descending vasa recta includes myoendothelial coupling. Am J Physiol Renal Physiol. 2014 Apr 30; Authors: Zhang Z, Payne K, Pallone TL Abstract Using dual cell patch clamp recording, we examined pericyte, endothelial and myoendothelial cell-to-cell communication in descending vasa recta. Graded current injections into pericytes or endothelia yielded input resistances of 220 ± 21 and 128 ± 20 MOhm, respectively (P < 0.05). Injection of positive or negative current into an endothelial cell depolarized and hyperpolarized adjacent endothelial cells, respectively. Similarly, current injection into a pericyte depolarized and hyperpolarized adjacent pericytes. During myoendothelial studies, current injection into a pericyte or an endothelial cell yielded small, variable, but significant change of membrane potential in heterologous cells. Membrane potentials of paired pericytes or paired endothelia were highly correlated and nearly identical. Paired measurement of resting potentials in heterologous cells were also correlated, but with slight hyperpolarization of the endothelium relative to the pericytes, -55.2 ± 1.8 vs -52.9 ± 2.2 mV (P < 0.05). During dual recordings, angiotensin II or bradykinin stimulated temporally identical variations of pericyte and endothelial membrane potential. Similarly, voltage clamp depolarization of pericytes or endothelial cells induced parallel changes of membrane potential...
Source: Am J Physiol Renal P... - Category: Urology & Nephrology Authors: Tags: Am J Physiol Renal Physiol Source Type: research