Life Sciences Commons^™

Analysis Of The Vascular Phenotype Of The Ent1-Null Mouse, Keisha A. Best

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

Adenosine is important in the regulation of vascular tone and the Equilibrative Nucleoside Transporter 1 (ENT1) is a regulator of adenosine concentrations. Thus, changes in ENT1 expression and activity may alter vascular tone regulation. We therefore examined the cardiovascular phenotype of ENT1-null (ENT1^-/-) as compared to wild type mice (ENT1^+/+). Heart rates (HRs) and blood pressures (BPs) of ENT1^-/- and ENT1^+/+ littermate male mice were obtained while conscious and anaesthetized, and metabolic data were collected over a 24 hr period. Vascular reactivity was assessed in aortic ring segments obtained from 3 month old ENT1 …

Purine Transport And Metabolism In Microvascular Endothelial Cells, Derek B J Bone

Electronic Thesis and Dissertation Repository

The microvascular endothelium serves as the barrier between the blood and perfused tissues. Proper function of the endothelium is dependent on the ability of the endothelial cells to produce nitric oxide and form tight junctions between themselves. Dysfunction occurs when stresses overwhelm the endothelial cell, with oxidative stress being a leading cause. Intracellular metabolism of purine nucleosides and nucleobases has been implicated in the production of oxidative stress. Nucleosides (e.g. adenosine) and nucleobases (e.g. hypoxanthine) are moved across cell membranes by a specialized family of proteins called equilibrative nucleoside transporters (ENTs).

We characterized primary human cardiac microvascular endothelial cells (MVECs) …