American journal of physiology. Heart and circulatory physiology
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Am. J. Physiol. Heart Circ. Physiol. · Jul 2019
Microvascular ion transport through endothelial glycocalyx layer: new mechanism and improved Starling principle.
Ion transport through the endothelial glycocalyx layer is closely associated with many vascular diseases. Clarification of ion behaviors around the endothelial glycocalyx layer under varying circumstances will benefit pathologies related to cardiovascular and renal diseases. In this research, a series of large-scale molecular dynamics simulations are conducted to study the response of ion transport to the changing blood flow velocity and the shedding of endothelial glycocalyx sugar chains. ⋯ The Starling principle and its revisions are at the heart of the understanding of fluid homeostasis in the periphery. Here, the blood flow changes the conformations of glycocalyx sugar chains, thereby influencing availability of Na+ for transport. Based on the findings, the Starling principle and its revision are further improved.