ROLE OF ERYTHROCYTES IN THE LOCAL REGULATION OF VASCULAR TONE
Role of red blood cells in providing tissue oxygenation depends not only on their gas transport function. Red blood cells are an important link in the mechanism of regulation of vascular tone. This is due to the presence of mechanosensitive mechanisms which ensure output of ATP and ADP - mediators of the purinergic regulation system. Activation of the purinergic receptors of endothelial cells leads to increased NO production and vasodilation. Desoxyhemoglobin under hypoxia is able to catalyze the NO reduction of NO<sub>2</sub> in the cytosol of red blood cells. As a result, the concentration of NO in blood plasma increases, which leads to vasodilation