Effect of Simulated Microgravity on Vascular Contractility

Microgravity was simulated in Sprague-Dawley (SD) and Wistar (W) rats by using a tail harness to elevate the hindquarters, producing hindlimb unweighting (HU). After 20 days of HU treatment, blood vessels from both HU and control rats were cut into 3-mm rings and mounted in tissue baths for the measurement of isometric contraction. HU treatment decreased the contractile response to 68 mM K+ in abdominal aorta from W rats. HU treatment also decreased the contraction to 68 mM K+ in carotid arteries from both rat strains and in femoral arteries from W but not SD rats. HU treatment reduced the maximal response to norepinephrine in all arteries except the femoral from SD rats. HU treatment reduced the maximal response of jugular vein from W rats to 68 mM K+ but had no effect on that response in femoral vein from either rat strain. HU treatment also had no significant effect on the maximal response to norepinephrine in veins. These results demonstrate that HU treatment caused a nearly universal reduction of contractility in arteries, but generally had no effect in veins.