PhD Studentship: How Do Nerves Control Blood Flow in Veins?

Veins contain around 70% of total blood volume and their tone determines the volume of blood returning to the heart, and hence regulate cardiac stroke volume. The majority of blood vessels are innervated by the autonomic nervous system, though our understanding regarding the neurotransmission between autonomic vasomotor nerves and blood vessels is mostly derived from studies on arteries.  In arteries, adenosine 5’-triphosphate (ATP) is a well-established neurotransmitter released with norepinephrine by sympathetic vasomotor nerves. The vasomotor effects of ATP in arteries are mediated by the activation of purinergic receptors: P2X receptors, a family of ligand-gated ion channels; P2Y receptors, a family of G protein-coupled receptors. The contribution of ATP as a neurotransmitter in autonomic control of venous tone is however poorly defined, but has therapeutic potential cardiovascular disease including heart failure and orthostatic hypotension. This PhD studentship will explore the expression of purinergic receptor subtypes in vasomotor nerves of sympathetic ganglia that innervate lower limb and splanchnic veins, and their expression in axonic projections within the walls of veins. The PhD studentship will determine the molecular basis of purinergic receptors found at pre- and post-junctional sites that are involved in neurotransmission between sympathetic nerves and veins, and determine their functional importance in neurogenic control of venous tone using physiological and pharmacological approaches in isolated veins.

The successful applicant will join a world-leading laboratory, receiving training in working ethically with pre-clinical model animals, myography studies of isolated blood vessels, confocal microscopy, immunocytochemistry, RNAseq, and pharmacology. The project would suit those with an interest in neuroscience and cardiovascular physiology. The laboratory is based within the Biomedical Research Centre on the main University of East Anglia campus, and is well funded by UKRI, British Heart Foundation and through industrial partnerships. This studentship is funded by the British Heart Foundation.

Primary Supervisor: Professor Samuel Fountain

Start date: Oct 2023

Funding

This PhD studentship is funded for 3 years by the British Heart Foundation.  Funding is available to UK applicants only.  Funding comprises home tuition fees and an annual stipend for a maximum of 36 months.  The stipend is £19,919 in year 1, rising to £23,298 in year 3.

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