VASCULAR RESEARCH UNIT
Head of the research unit:
Prof. Dr. J. Van de Voorde
Email: Johan.VandeVoorde@UGent.be
Professors
J. Van de Voorde, Pharm, PhD in Physiology
C. Delaey, MD, Ophtalmologist, PhD
Scientific staff:
C. Boydens, Master of Biomedical sciences
K. Decaluwé, Master of Biomedical sciences
B. Pauwels, Master of Pharmaceutical sciences
Technical staff:
T. Vanthuyne, Graduated technician
Research areas
The research team is mainly interested in the paracrine regulation of blood vessel tone. More specifically research is performed on the characteristics, mechanisms of action and identity of some vasoactive molecules released from endothelial cells, retinal tissue, non-adrenergic non-cholinergic (NANC) nerves and fat tissue. For this purpose several techniques are applied such as measurement of contractility of small isolated blood vessels in vitro, biochemical measurement of second messengers (cAMP and cGMP) in blood vessels, bio-assay technique for endogenous vasoactive molecules, in vivo measurements of cardiovascular parameters and erectile function in mice.
A first research topic focuses on substances released from endothelial cells, more specifically NO and the as yet unknown endothelium derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). Our present studies aim to unravel the role of different isoforms of soluble guanylyl cyclase (sGC) in relaxations mediated by NO (all or not endothelium-dependent) and in relaxations elicited by direct sGC activators. Similar in vitro research is also done on isolated corpora cavernosa in face of the increasing problem of erectile dysfunction. Erection, which is mainly elicited by NO from NANC nerves, is also studied in vivo. This research uses genetic modified mice with one or more dysfunctional isoforms of sGC.
A second research topic focuses the so called retinal relaxing factor (RRF), an as yet unknown and potent relaxing factor continuously released from retina, that was discovered in our research group. This molecule, which can be demonstrated using a bio-assay technique, does not correspond with charactistics of the known relaxing factors released from retina. The aim of this research is to characterize the relaxing factor (retinal cell type involved, pharmacological inhibitors...) with the ultimate goal to identify the factor.
Representative recent publications
- Boussery K., Delaey C., Van de Voorde J.: The vasorelaxing effect of CGRP and natriuretic peptides in isolated bovine retinal arteries. Invest. Ophthalmol. Vis. Sci. 2005, 46: 1420-1427
- Maenhaut N., Boussery K., Delaey C., Van de Voorde J.: Control of retinal arterial tone by a paracrine retinal relaxing factor. Microcirculation 2007, 14: 39-48
- Delaey C., Boussery K., Breyne J., Vanheel B., Van de Voorde J.: The endothelium-derived hyperpolarising factor (EDHF) in isolated bovine choroidal arteries. Exp. Eye Res. 2007, 84: 1067-1073
- Nimmegeers S., Sips P., Buys E., Brouckaert P., Van de Voorde J.: Functional role of the soluble guanylyl cyclase alfa1 subunit in vascular smooth muscle relaxation. Cardiovasc. Res. 2007, 76: 149-159
- Nimmegeers S., Sips P., Buys E., Decaluwé K., Brouckaert P., Van de Voorde J.: Role of the soluble guanylyl cyclase a1-subunit in mice corpus cavernosum smooth muscle relaxation. Internat. J. Impot. Res. 2008, 20: 278-284
