Smooth muscle factors that affect

Total peripheral resistance (TPR) is the resistance to blood flow offered by all systemic vessels taken together, especially by the arterioles, which are the primary resistance vessels. Therefore, MAP is regulated by cardiac activity and vascular smooth muscle tone. Any change in CO or TPR causes a change in MAP. The major factors that affect CO, TPR, and therefore MAP, are summarized in Figure 15.3, as well as in Table 15.1. These factors may be organized into several categories and will be discussed as such ... 

Oxidized LDL are considered to be one of the major factors associated with the development of atherosclerosis. The earliest event is the transport of LDL into the arterial wall where LDL, being trapped in subendothelial space, are oxidized by oxygen radicals produced by endothelial and arterial smooth muscle cells. The oxidation of LDL in the arterial wall is affected by various factors including hemodynamic forces such as shear stress and stretch force. Thus, it has been shown [177] that stress force imposed on vascular smooth muscle cells incubated with native LDL increased the MDA formation by about 150% concomitantly with the enhancement of superoxide production. It was suggested that oxidation was initiated by NADPH oxidase-produced superoxide and depended on the presence of metal ions. 

Figure 9.1 The progression of CRD as a continuum, affected by a host of risk factors (with cigarette smoking, high cholesterol, and hypertension as the three major risk factors) and protective factors including resveratrol. The scheme also shows that multiple cell types, such as endothelial and smooth muscle cells, and platelets and macrophages, are involved in the pathogenesis of CRD.

Cardiovascular Effects. PAHs are contained in cigarette smoke, and smoking is a well-established risk factor in the development of atherosclerosis. Arterial smooth muscle cell proliferation, collagen synthesis, lipid accumulation, and cellular necrosis are all involved in the pathogenesis of the atherosclerotic plaque. In v//ro studies conducted using bovine, rabbit, and human smooth muscle cells from arteries demonstrated that benzopyrene affects some of the aforementioned processes. 

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