# Effect of Cardioplegia and Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Coronary Microvascular Reactivity

> **NIH NIH R01** · RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL · 2022 · $611,958

## Abstract

SUMMARY:
Cardiac surgery, especially that involving cardioplegia (CP) and cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB), is associated
with significant changes in vasomotor regulation and subsequent organ injury such as neurocognitive deficit,
stroke, renal and mesenteric failure, post-operative systemic hypotension and coronary spasm. Hypertension
is also associated with severe autonomic dysfunction and vasomotor regulation, as well as with increased
morbidity and mortality after surgical procedures. The goal of the proposed research is to determine the effect
of well-controlled and poorly controlled hypertension on alterations in vascular signal
transduction and function and to investigate the changes that occur in these patients before and after
undergoing heart surgery with CP and CPB. Specifically, hypertension-related differences in microvascular
function will be investigated with specific focus on 1) myogenic tone, 2) -adrenergic and vasopressin-induced
microvascular signaling and contraction, 3) and the differential effects of gender and aging on myogenic,
angiotensin I and II, and -adrenergic pathway. These aims will be examined in the microvasculature of well-
controlled and poorly controlled hypertensive and age-matched normotensive patients, using in vitro
microvascular imaging. This work will be accomplished through an exhaustive approach using molecular and
cellular biology techniques to examine gene and protein expression and activation involved in maintaining
vascular integrity and signaling following cardiac surgery. The results of these studies may have significant
implications regarding the recovery of hypertensive and other patients after cardiac surgery.

## Key facts

- **NIH application ID:** 10370331
- **Project number:** 5R01HL046716-28
- **Recipient organization:** RHODE ISLAND HOSPITAL
- **Principal Investigator:** Frank W Sellke
- **Activity code:** R01 (R01, R21, SBIR, etc.)
- **Funding institute:** NIH
- **Fiscal year:** 2022
- **Award amount:** $611,958
- **Award type:** 5
- **Project period:** 1992-08-01 → 2024-03-31

## Primary source

NIH RePORTER: https://reporter.nih.gov/project-details/10370331

## Citation

> US National Institutes of Health, RePORTER application 10370331, Effect of Cardioplegia and Cardiopulmonary Bypass on Coronary Microvascular Reactivity (5R01HL046716-28). Retrieved via AI Analytics 2026-05-21 from https://api.ai-analytics.org/grant/nih/10370331. Licensed CC0.

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