Level of Sympathetically Mediated Arteriolar Control is Inversely Dependent on Arteriolar Segment Length in Rat Gluteus Maximus Microvascular Networks

The sympathetic nervous system (SNS) releases neuropeptide Y (NPY, acting on Y1‐receptors, Y1R) and norepinephrine (NE, acting on α‐adrenoreceptors) that constrict skeletal muscle arterioles to modulate their resistance and blood flow. We recently reported that αR and Y1R control displayed topological dependency; in that α‐adrenoreceptor control was greatest at proximal vessels (i.e., 1st and 2nd order arterioles), while NPY mediated effects …