Rhythmical contractility of blood vessels was first observed in bat wing veins by Jones
(Philos Trans R Soc Lond 1852: 142, 131–136), and subsequently described in arteries and …

The neurovascular unit (NVU) coordinates many essential functions in the brain including
blood flow control, nutrient delivery, and maintenance of BBB integrity. These functions are …

Förster resonance energy transfer (FRET) between fluorophores of the same species was
recognized in the early to mid-1900s, well before modern heterotransfer applications …

Cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) is an important signaling molecule and drug
target in the cardiovascular system. It is well known that stimulation of the vascular nitric …

Activation of myosin light chain kinase (MLCK) by calcium ions (Ca 2+) and calmodulin
(CaM) plays an important role in numerous cellular functions including vascular smooth …

Ras homolog family member A (RhoA) acts as a signaling hub in many cellular processes,
including cytoskeletal dynamics, division, migration, and adhesion. RhoA activity is tightly …

Hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S) is an endogenous gaseous signaling molecule with potent anti-
inflammatory properties. Exogenous application of H 2 S donors, administered either acutely …

Myogenic tone is an intrinsic property of the vasculature that contributes to blood pressure
control and tissue perfusion. Earlier investigations assigned a key role in myogenic tone to …

Background and aims Atherosclerosis preferentially occurs at regions in arterial branching,
curvature, and stenosis, which may be explained by the geometric predilection of low …

Two-photon fluorescence microscopy and conscious, restrained optical biosensor mice
were used to study smooth muscle Ca2+ signaling in ear arterioles. Conscious mice were …