P2Y receptor-induced EDHF vasodilatation is of primary importance for the regulation of perfusion pressure in the peripheral circulation of the rat.
Extracellular nucleotides have been shown to induce vasodilatation of conductance arteries by release of the endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). As small resistance arteries are of greater importance for blood pressure regulation, a whole rat mesenteric arterial bed preparation was used in the present study when evaluating the physiological relevance for EDHF in mediating nucleotide