Date of Award
5-1970
Degree Type
Master's Essay
Degree Name
Master of Science (MS)
Department
Medical
First Advisor
William J. Stekiel
Second Advisor
Henry Edelhauser
Abstract
The primary objective or this study is essentially to acquire further knowledge of the factors involved in the nervous and humoral control of vascular smooth muscle tone. The relative importance of the nervous and endogenous vasotropic humoral control or vasomotor tone under normal conditions as well as under conditions or hypotension can be evaluated, at least in part, by observing the electrical activity occurring in single vascular smooth muscle cells of the mesenteric microcirculation. This thesis describes: 1) the development of electrophysiological methods for the measurement of such activity in ''in situ" micro-vessels with circulation and innervation intact, and 2) the application of these methods to record, in the vascular smooth muscle, the electrical activity or some rat mesenteric vessels. The traces of electrical activity recorded in this study are unique in that the activity or single cells could be monitored before, during, and after drug stimulation without the deterioration of cell potential with time that has been noted by other investigators, Because the circulation and innervation of the micro-vessels is intact in the living, anesthetized animals used, control or non-experimental variables is difficult. Imprecision in control may have led to ambiguity in the interpretation or the data obtained to date, but future studies, with more precise regulation, should accomplish the objective. A problem of particular interest to this investigator in future studies is the evaluation of the precise role of the mesenteric microcirculation in the genesis of the "irreversible" phase of the clinical syndrome called shock.
Recommended Citation
Willems, William J., "The Development of Electrophysiological Techniques Allowing "In Situ" Measurement of Electrical Changes Within Smooth Muscle Cells of Mesenteric Micro-vessels" (1970). Master's Essays (1922 - ). 2991.
https://epublications.marquette.edu/essays/2991
Included in
Digestive, Oral, and Skin Physiology Commons, Gastroenterology Commons, Medical Physiology Commons
Comments
A Thesis submitted to the Faculty of the Graduate School, Marquette University, in Partial fulfillment for the Requirements for the Degree of Master of Science in Physiology, Milwaukee, Wisconsin.