Figure showing how we used the two-photon laser to ablate the pericyte around the precapillary sphincter.

After #LaserAblating pericytes around #PrecapillarySphincters, we observed impaired #MyogenicResponse and #NeurovascularCoupling—demonstrating #PrecapillarySphincter pericyte contractility is essential.

Figure showing blood pressure increase by the acute hypertensive challenge along with changed microvascular diameter in adult and old mice. CC= 0.13 for the adult mouse and 0.57 for the old mouse.

In aged mice, the #MyogenicResponse was significantly blunted. This was shown by an increased #CorrelationCoefficient (CC) between #VascularDiameter and #BloodPressure

We challenged mice with acute #BloodPressure spikes (~70% increase via angiotensin II). Result: both adult and #old mice got their #MyogenicResponse and #NeurovascularCoupling disrupted