Purinergic signalling, ie, the role of nucleotides as extracellular signalling molecules, was
proposed in 1972. However, this concept was not well accepted until the early 1990's when …

There is nervous control of the heart by ATP as a cotransmitter in sympathetic,
parasympathetic, and sensory-motor nerves, as well as in intracardiac neurons. Centers in …

Arterial blood pressure is controlled by vasodilatory factors such as nitric oxide (NO) that are
released from the endothelium under the influence of fluid shear stress exerted by flowing …

Cardiovascular disease is a leading cause of death worldwide and accounts for> 17.3
million deaths per year, with an estimated increase in incidence to 23.6 million by 2030 …

The autonomic nervous system (ANS), comprised of two primary branches, sympathetic and
parasympathetic nervous system, plays an essential role in the regulation of vascular wall …

Complex multicellular life in mammals relies on functional cooperation of different organs for
the survival of the whole organism. The kidneys play a critical part in this process through …

Extracellular nucleotides and nucleosides mediate diverse signaling effects in virtually all
organs and tissues. Most models of purinergic signaling depend on functional interactions …

The P2X7 receptor is a trimeric ion channel gated by extracellular adenosine 5′-
triphosphate. The receptor is present on an increasing number of different cells types …

By general consensus, the omnipresent purine nucleoside adenosine is considered a major
regulator of local tissue function, especially when energy supply fails to meet cellular energy …

Efficient insulin secretion requires a well-functioning pancreatic islet microvasculature. The
dense network of islet capillaries includes the islet pericyte, a cell that has barely been …