Sympathetic denervation reverses developmental changes both in Ca(2+) sensitivity and in the expression of regulatory proteins back to the early post-natal phenotype in the rat saphenous artery. We conclude that trophic effects of sympathetic nerves govern functional remodelling of arteries during early post-natal development.

The negative feedback regulation of vasocontraction by potassium channels varies during maturation depending on the channel type. A dominating contribution of K 7 channels to the regulation of basal tone and agonist-induced contraction was observed in arteries of 10- to 15-day-old animals.