The purpose of this U.S.-Hungary cooperative research project between Dr. Allen Cowley of the Medical College of Wisconsin and Dr. Emil Monos of the Semmelweis Medical University is to take advantage of the complementary expertise of the two groups to investigate the contractile mechanisms of blood vessels. In particular, combination of the Wisconsin group's expertise on the ionic basis for depolarization of vascular and muscle cells, combined with the Hungarians'expertise on the biomechanics of the blood vessel wall, is expected to lead to improved understanding of venous myogenicity (the extent to which venous pressure causes contraction of the vein wall), the scientific basis of which is virtually unknown. Improved understanding of this phenomenon is crucial for defining the basic mechanisms which regulate vascular compliance in the cardiovascular system.
