Possible Mechanisms of Vascular Relaxation Induced by Pulsed-UV Laser

Yuji Morimoto, Tsunenori Arai, Hirotaka Matsuo, Makoto Kikuchi

Research output: Contribution to journalArticlepeer-review

7 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

This study was designed to examine the mechanism of vasorelaxation induced by pulsed-UV laser. Luminal diameters of rat femoral arteries were measured prior to and following krypton-fluoride excimer laser irradiation of 248 nm in wavelength. The diameter was enlarged to 1.3 times the preirradiated size at 1 or 10 Hz irradiation when the fluence was over 2.0 mJ/pulse/mm2, while the diameter reached 1.8 times at 100 Hz with a fluence of 0.8 mJ/pulse/mm2. Vasorelaxation by the 100 Hz irradiation was inhibited when the artery was pretreated with methylene blue but was enhanced with superoxide dismutase. Pathological analysis revealed an ablation crater and vacuole formation in the vessel at 1 or 10 Hz irradiation, but these changes were not remarkable in the 100 Hz-exposed sample. These findings suggest that vasorelaxation induced by the pulsed UV irradiation at 1 or 10 Hz results from structural alteration of vascular smooth muscle by the ablation crater or vacuolization. On the other hand, a possible mechanism of vasorelaxation at the 100 Hz irradiation is partially related to nitric oxide.

Original languageEnglish
Pages (from-to)388-393
Number of pages6
JournalPhotochemistry and Photobiology
Volume68
Issue number3
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1998 Sept

ASJC Scopus subject areas

  • Biochemistry
  • Physical and Theoretical Chemistry

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