Vasoconstrictor stimulus determines the functional contribution of myoendothelial feedback to mesenteric arterial tone

Key points In isolated resistance arteries, endothelial modulation of vasoconstrictor responses to α1‐adrenoceptor agonists occurs via a process termed myoendothelial feedback: localized inositol trisphosphate (InsP3)­dependent Ca2+ transients activate intermediate conductance Ca2+­activated K+ (IKCa) channels, hyperpolarizing the endothelial membrane potential to limit further reductions in vessel diameter. We demonstrate that IKCa channel‐mediated myoendothelial feedback limits responses of isolated mesenteric arteries to noradrenaline and nerve stimulation, but not to the thromboxane A2 mimetic U46619 or to increases in intravascular pressure. In contrast, in the intact mesenteric bed, although responses to exogenous noradrenaline were limited by IKCa channel‐mediated myoendothelial feedback, release of NO and activation of endothelial small conductance Ca2+­activated K+ (SKCa) channels in response to increases in shear stress appeared to be the primary mediators of endothelial modulation of vasoconstriction. We propose that (1) the functional contribution of myoendothelial feedback to arterial tone is determined by the nature of the vasoconstrictor stimulus, and (2) although IKCa channel‐mediated myoendothelial feedback may contribute to local control of arterial diameter, in the intact vascular bed, increases in shear stress may be the major stimulus for engagement of the endothelium during vasoconstriction. Constriction of isolated resistance arteries in response to α1‐adrenoceptor agonists is limited by reciprocal engagement of inhibitory endothelial mechanisms via myoendothelial feedback. In the current model of feedback, agonist stimulation of smooth muscle cells results in localized InsP3­dependent Ca2+ transients that activate endothelial IKCa channels. The subsequent hyperpolarization of the endothelial membrane potential then feeds back to the smooth muscle to limit further reductions in vessel diameter. We hypothesized that the functional contribution of InsP3–IKCa channel‐mediated myoendothelial feedback to limiting arterial diameter may be influenced by the nature of the vasoconstrictor stimulus. To test this hypothesis, we investigated the functional role of myoendothelial feedback in modulating responses of rat mesenteric resistance arteries to the adrenoceptor agonist noradrenaline, the thromboxane A2 mimetic U46619, increases in intravascular pressure and stimulation of perivascular sympathetic nerves. In isolated arteries, responses to