Figure 4
From: Real-time vascular mechanosensation through ex vivo artery perfusion
Distinct calcium responses to fluid-shear stress and a pharmacological agonist. After loaded with calcium indicator, a segment of artery is imaged under an inverted microscope. Baseline calcium level is recorded for at least 15 seconds (s). a. Pseudocolor indicates intracellular calcium level in response to fluid-shear stress in the presence or absence of acetylcholine (ACh). Green to red color indicates low to high calcium level, respectively. b. Changes in calcium level in response to flow or acetylcholine are quantified and normalized relative to baseline calcium level. Arrows indicate the initiation of perfusion.