Figure 8.

Proposed pathway for nitric oxide release by PVAT and how it results in the PVAT anticontractile effect. Noradrenaline (NA) activates β₃‐adrenoceptors within PVAT leading to increased cAMP production. This activates K_v7 within PVAT leading to an efflux of potassium and subsequent hyperpolarisation that drives calcium entry into the adipocyte and activation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) which catalyses the production of NO from L‐arginine (L‐Arg). NO is released from PVAT and acts on vascular smooth muscle cells leading to hyperpolarisation and vasodilatation which opposes vasoconstriction resulting in an anticontractile effect.