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Biomedical subjects

N A Flavahan

Publications and source records attributed to N A Flavahan.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed1995

Endothelial cell signaling and endothelial dysfunction.

Endothelial cells have an important protective role in maintaining the normal physiologic function of the vascular wall. When these cells become dysfunctional, they lose this protective influence and they actively promote pathophysiological changes within the blood vessel. This review will discuss some of the extracellular signaling mechanisms employed by normal endothelial cells to exert a protective influence in the vascular wall and those signals generated by dysfunctional cells to promote the atherosclerotic process. It will also discuss the intracellular processes that regulate the release/expression of these signals and that control the transformation of this protective cell to one that promotes the development of vascular disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1995

Mechanisms of hypoxic vasodilation in ferret pulmonary arteries.

To investigate the mechanism of hypoxic pulmonary vasodilation we measured isometric tension in rings from ferret third- to fifth-generation intrapulmonary arteries mounted in organ baths (37 degrees C, 28% O2-5% CO2). After precontraction with phenylephrine (PE), hypoxia caused a brief transient vasoconstriction followed by marked vasodilation. Endothelial denudation did not affect the steady-state response. In vessels without endothelium, inhibition of cyclooxygenase and nitric oxide synthase had no effect on the response to hypoxia. Inhibition of ATP-dependent K+ channels (KATP) with glibenclamide, linogliride, or tolbutamide had no effect on normoxic tone before PE or the vasoconstrictor response to PE but inhibited hypoxic vasodilation. Inhibition of Ca(2+)-activated K+ (KCa) channels with charybdotoxin potentiated the vasoconstrictor response to PE but had no effect on hypoxic vasodilation. The nonspecific K(+)-channel inhibitor tetraethyl-ammonium (TEA) potentiated the response to PE and inhibited hypoxic vasodilation. Glibenclamide plus TEA inhibited hypoxic vasodilation more than either agent alone, suggesting that TEA inhibited the KATP-channel independent vasodilation. These results suggest that in isolated ferret pulmonary arteries hypoxia causes vasodilation partially by activating smooth muscle KATP channels. Activation of a TEA-sensitive channel that is not a KATP or KCa channel may also contribute to hypoxic vasodilation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Endothelial and vascular smooth muscle responses are altered after left lung autotransplantation.

Left lung autotransplantation (LLA) increased the pulmonary vasoconstriction evoked by phenylephrine and attenuated the vasodilatation caused by acetylcholine or bradykinin in conscious dogs. To study the mechanisms responsible for these changes, pulmonary arterial rings were isolated from right (control) and left (LLA) lower lobes of dogs 1-26 mo after LLA and were suspended for isometric tension recording. Compared with control rings from the same anatomic location, contractions to phenylephrine were increased after LLA in rings with or without endothelium. In arterial rings contracted to 50% of their maximal response to phenylephrine, acetylcholine, bradykinin, and calcium ionophore caused endothelium-dependent relaxations that were reduced in LLA compared with control rings. In arterial rings from control and LLA lungs, relaxations to acetylcholine were not altered by inhibition of cyclooxygenase (indomethacin) but were reduced after inhibition of NO synthase [N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)]. After L-NAME, there was no longer any significant difference in acetylcholine-induced relaxation between arterial rings from control and LLA lungs. Relaxation to SIN-1, a NO donor, was similar in arterial rings (without endothelium) from control and LLA lungs. The results suggest that LLA causes an increased sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle to alpha 1-adrenergic activation and endothelial dysfunction that is mediated by a selective reduction in the activity of endothelium-derived relaxing factor/NO.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1993

Endothelium-derived contracting and relaxing factors contribute to hypoxic responses of pulmonary arteries.

The response of porcine pulmonary arteries to hypoxia depended on their location in the vasculature and the degree and duration of the hypoxic challenge. In rings of pulmonary artery suspended for isometric tension recording (37 degrees C, 16% O2 and 5% CO2), moderate hypoxia (10% and 4% O2) caused endothelium-dependent relaxation in distal arteries but transient endothelium-dependent contraction in proximal arteries. In both proximal and distal arteries, the initial response to anoxia (0% O2) was a transient endothelium-dependent contraction. This was followed by a slowly developing, sustained endothelium-dependent contraction in proximal arteries, or by an endothelium-independent relaxation in distal arteries. The endothelium-dependent relaxation to moderate hypoxia in distal arteries was inhibited only by combined inhibition of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF)-nitric oxide (NO) synthase [N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME)] and cyclooxygenase (indomethacin), suggesting mediation by EDRF-NO and prostacyclin. Transient endothelium-dependent contractions to moderate hypoxia (proximal arteries) or anoxia (all arteries) were abolished by L-NAME, but the late endothelium-dependent anoxic contraction observed in proximal arteries was not reduced by L-NAME and/or indomethacin. Therefore, hypoxia/anoxia may initiate contraction of pulmonary arteries by decreasing the activity of EDRF-NO, but the contractions appear to be maintained by an increased activity of an endothelium-derived contracting factor.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1991

Loss of endothelial pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein function in atherosclerotic porcine coronary arteries.

Pertussis toxin, an irreversible inhibitor of some G proteins, inhibits endothelium-dependent relaxations to certain agonists in porcine coronary arteries. In the present study, the effects of the toxin were examined on endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations of hypercholesterolemic and atherosclerotic porcine coronary arteries to assess the functional state of the endothelial pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein. Male Yorkshire pigs were maintained on either a regular diet (control group, n = 7) or a 2% high-cholesterol diet (cholesterol-fed group, n = 7) for 10 weeks. After the initial 2 weeks of maintenance, animals in both groups underwent balloon catheter removal of the endothelium of the left anterior descending or left circumflex coronary arteries. Endothelium-dependent responses were examined in vitro after 10 weeks of maintenance; at this time, a full lining of endothelial cells in both left coronary arteries was confirmed histologically. In arteries with endothelium of the control group (normal responses), pertussis toxin significantly inhibited the endothelium-dependent relaxations to serotonin, UK14304 (a selective alpha 2-adrenergic receptor agonist), and thrombin but not those to ADP, bradykinin, or the calcium ionophore A23187. In previously denuded arteries of the control group (effects of endothelial regeneration alone) or intact arteries of the cholesterol-fed group (effects of hypercholesterolemia alone), the relaxations to serotonin, UK14304, and thrombin were impaired significantly; those relaxations were impaired further in previously denuded arteries of the cholesterol-fed group (effects of atherosclerosis). The inhibitory effects of pertussis toxin were significantly reduced after endothelial regeneration and in hypercholesterolemia and were almost absent in atherosclerosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Pertussis toxin reduces endothelium-dependent and independent responses to alpha-2- adrenergic stimulation in systemic canine arteries and veins.

A pertussis toxin-sensitive guanine nucleotide regulatory protein (G-protein) is involved in the signal transduction of certain endothelium-dependent responses in mammalian arteries. To determine whether a similar mechanism mediates endothelium-dependent responses in mammalian veins, rings of canine femoral arteries and veins with and without endothelium were suspended for the measurement of isometric force in organ chambers. In femoral arteries, incubation of the rings with pertussis toxin (from Bordetella pertussis, 100 ng/ml for 2 hr) in the presence of indomethacin and propranolol did not reduce significantly endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine and adenosine diphosphate, thrombin or the calcium ionophore A23187. However, endothelium-dependent relaxations evoked by the alpha-2 adrenergic agonist UK 14,304 were blocked by the pertussis toxin. In venous rings, endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine were reduced by the toxin, whereas the endothelium-dependent relaxations evoked by adenosine diphosphate, thrombin and A23187 were not affected. UK 14,304 contracted the veins; these contractions were augmented by removal of the endothelium. Pertussis toxin inhibited contractions to UK 14,304 in venous rings without but not with endothelium. Relaxations of arterial and venous smooth muscle to nitric oxide were unaffected by the toxin. Contractions to phenylephrine were not altered by either removal of the endothelium or the toxin in the arteries or veins. These results suggest that the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor in response to stimulation of purine and thrombin receptors probably does not involve a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein in canine femoral arteries or veins.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1991

Inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxations by phorbol myristate acetate in canine coronary arteries: role of a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein.

Activation of protein kinase C by phorbol esters inhibits the endothelium-dependent relaxations evoked by certain stimuli. The release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor can be evoked by a number of distinct subcellular processes, including activation of a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein. The aim of the present study was to determine whether or not the inhibitory effect of phorbol esters on endothelial function was associated with inhibition of the pertussis toxin-sensitive pathway. Rings of canine coronary artery were suspended for isometric tension recording in organ chambers filled with modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution, gassed with 95% O2-5% CO2 (37 degrees C). Treatment of arterial rings with pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml) or with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA, 10(-8) M) inhibited the endothelium-dependent relaxations produced by UK 14,304, an alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, leukotriene C4 or by NaF, a direct activator of G-proteins, but did not affect the endothelium-dependent relaxations produced by bradykinin or by A23187. If the arterial rings were first treated with pertussis toxin, PMA (10(-8) M) no longer inhibited the endothelium-dependent relaxations to NaF. Increasing the concentration of PMA (to 3 X 10(-8) and 10(-7) M) caused inhibition of responses to bradykinin. At higher concentrations, PMA (3 X 10(-7) and 10(-6)) also inhibited the relaxations evoked by A23187. The endothelium-independent relaxations evoked by nitroglycerin were not affected by PMA (10(-8) to 10(-6)).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Pertussis toxin inhibits endothelium-dependent relaxations evoked by fluoride.

Fluoride is a direct activator of G-proteins. In isolated rings of canine coronary artery, fluoride caused relaxation of rings with endothelium, but only slight contraction of rings denuded of endothelium. The endothelium-dependent relaxations to fluoride were inhibited by pertussis toxin, an inhibitor of G-proteins, or by methylene blue, an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase. Therefore, fluoride causes endothelium-dependent relaxations in part by activating a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein in the endothelial cells.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1990

Differential effects of the antianginal drug nicorandil on canine arteries and veins.

Nicorandil, a potent coronary vasorelaxant used in the treatment of angina, has differential effects on arteries and veins in vivo. To explain this phenomenon, experiments were designed to characterize the relaxant and inhibitory actions of this compound on canine isolated arteries and veins. Paired rings of canine coronary, femoral, and saphenous arteries and saphenous veins were suspended at optimal length for isometric tension recording in organ chambers containing physiologic salt solution at 37 degrees C and gassed with 95% O2-5% CO2. In certain experiments, one ring of each pair was denuded of the endothelium. Removal of the endothelium did not affect nicorandil-induced relaxations of contracted blood vessels. Nicorandil exerted a differential relaxant effect on arteries and veins contracted with KCl (order of potency: saphenous vein greater than coronary artery greater than femoral artery). No difference in sensitivity to nicorandil was observed in arteries and veins contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha. Contractions of saphenous arteries and veins to norepinephrine (NE) were equally sensitive to the inhibitory action of nicorandil. However, contractions of saphenous veins induced by sympathetic nerve stimulation were more sensitive to nicorandil than were contractions of saphenous arteries. Furthermore, nicorandil did not affect contractions to phenylephrine in saphenous veins, although contractions to B-HT 920 were virtually abolished by the compound. Saphenous veins contracted with St 587 were more sensitive to the relaxant action of nicorandil than when contracted with phenylephrine. These results suggest that nicorandil inhibits preferentially contractions of canine arteries and veins mediated by alpha 2- rather than alpha 1-adrenoceptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1990

Effect of CRL 41034 on the adrenergic neuroeffector interaction in the canine saphenous vein.

Experiments were designed to determine the effect of CRL 41034, a buflomedil analogue, on the adrenergic responsiveness of canine veins. Rings of saphenous vein (without endothelium) were suspended for isometric tension recording in modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution at 37 degrees C. CRL 41034 produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the contractions evoked by the alpha adrenergic agonists norepinephrine, phenylephrine and UK 14304 which was insensitive to the blockade of neuronal uptake by cocaine. CRL 41034 was more potent in inhibiting the concentration-dependent contractions evoked by UK 14304 than those by phenylephrine and the antagonism it caused against the response to UK 14304 fulfilled the criteria for competitivity. CRL 41034, at 10(-5) M significantly depressed, and at 10(-4) M abolished the contractions induced by electrical stimulation of the adrenergic nerves and those evoked by the indirect sympathomimetic amine tyramine. Strips of canine saphenous vein were superfused after incubation with [3H] norepinephrine. During sympathetic nerve activation, CRL 41304 increased the stimulation-evoked overflow of [3H] norepinephrine and 3-methoxy-4-dihydroxyphenylglycol; in the presence of rauwolscine the compound only increased the stimulation-evoked overflow of 3,4-dihydroxyphenylglycol. These experiments suggest that the major vascular effects of CRL 41034 in canine veins are blockade of alpha 2-adrenoceptors on vascular smooth muscle, and inhibition of prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors on adrenergic nerve endings.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1990

G-proteins and endothelial responses.

G-proteins are transducing proteins that couple a large number of membrane-bound receptors to a variety of intracellular effector systems. Pertussis toxin ADP-ribosylates certain G-proteins causing inhibition of their function. In porcine coronary arteries, pertussis toxin inhibited the endothelium-dependent relaxations evoked by alpha-2-adrenergic or serotonergic receptor stimulation, and by aggregating platelets or thrombin. Relaxations to nitric oxide and endothelium-dependent relaxations to bradykinin, adenosine diphosphate or A23187 were unaffected by the toxin. Therefore, certain endothelium-dependent relaxations are mediated by activation of a pertussis toxin-sensitive G-protein in the endothelial cells, most likely Gi-protein. In porcine coronary arteries with regenerated endothelium (following in vivo denudation), the endothelium-dependent relaxations caused by the pertussis toxin-sensitive stimuli were reduced and were not further affected by pertussis toxin. Relaxations to the other stimuli were not altered by the regeneration process and were still not affected by the toxin. In regenerating endothelial cells there may be a selective impairment of the G-protein-dependent mechanism for releasing EDRF, which may predispose the blood vessel to vasospasm or the initiation of vascular disease.

Animals↗
PubMed1990

Electrophysiological analysis of adrenergic neurotransmission and its modulation by chronic denervation in canine saphenous veins.

The present experiments were undertaken to investigate the electrophysiological responses of the canine saphenous vein evoked by perivascular nerve stimulation, norepinephrine or selective alpha adrenergic agonists before and after chronic sympathetic denervation. Unilateral sympathectomy was performed from T12 to L9 in adult female dogs. After 3 to 5 weeks, the denervated saphenous veins were removed. Innervated saphenous veins were obtained from unoperated dogs. In innervated but not in denervated veins, electrical stimulation generated excitatory junction potentials and a slow depolarization. The slow depolarization was inhibited by rauwolscine or phentolamine, but not by prazosin, whereas excitatory junction potentials were not inhibited by alpha adrenergic blockers. Exogenously applied norepinephrine caused a depolarization of the membrane that was inhibited by rauwolscine but not by prazosin. The selective alpha-1 adrenergic agonist, phenylephrine, and the selective alpha-2 adrenergic agonist, UK 14,304, caused depolarization. In denervated veins, the threshold concentrations of norepinephrine or UK 14,304 required to depolarize the smooth muscle cell membrane were reduced. Responses to phenylephrine were not affected by denervation. These results indicate that in the canine saphenous vein norepinephrine, whether added exogenously or released from sympathetic nerves, causes predominant depolarization by activating alpha-2 adrenergic receptors. Denervation augments selectively the electrical response to alpha-2 adrenergic stimulation.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed1990

Effects of the methyl xanthine S 9795 on isolated bronchi of the dog.

The xanthine derivative 1-methyl 3-isobutyl 8-(2-ethyl[1-(4-diphenylmethyl piperazinyl)])3, 7-dihydro (1H) purine 2, 6-dione (S 9795) is a potent inhibitor of bronchoconstriction in vivo. The aim of the present study was to analyze the effects of S 9795 in vitro and determine whether S 9795 affects the autonomic nerves, the epithelium or the smooth muscle of the bronchial wall. S 9795 had an inhibitory effect on the contractile responses evoked by acetylcholine and by electrical stimulation of the cholinergic nerves. S 9795 appeared more potent against contractions evoked by nerve stimulation. In addition, S 9795 caused the release of [3H]norepinephrine from the adrenergic nerve endings but did not affect neuronal uptake of the catecholamine. At low concentrations, S 9795 acted as a competitive serotonergic antagonist; at higher concentrations, the compound inhibited noncompetitively the contractions evoked by histamine and acetylcholine. In both second and fourth order bronchi, S 9795 (and theophylline) produced concentration-dependent relaxations that were significantly greater in rings with, compared with rings without, epithelium. The compound also facilitated the epithelium-dependent component of the relaxation response to beta-adrenergic activation. These results suggest that S 9795: 1) causes prejunctional inhibition of the release of acetylcholine, 2) evokes the displacement of stored norepinephrine, 3) exerts a differential inhibitory effect on airway contractions induced by various bronchoconstrictors and 4) augments the release or facilitates the effect of the epithelium-derived relaxing factor.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1989

Pertussis toxin inhibits endothelium-dependent relaxations to certain agonists in porcine coronary arteries.

1. Pertussis toxin inactivates Gi-protein, which mediates the inhibitory effects of receptors on adenylate cyclase. The effects of the toxin on endothelium-dependent and independent relaxations were determined in porcine coronary arteries. 2. Arterial rings (with and without endothelium) were suspended for isometric tension recording in organ chambers filled with modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate solution (maintained at 37 degrees C, gassed with 95% O2 and 5% CO2). 3. Incubation of the tissues with pertussis toxin (100 ng/ml for 60 min) virtually abolished the endothelium-dependent relaxations produced by the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist, UK 14304, and by 5-hydroxytryptamine. Endothelium-dependent relaxations to thrombin and to aggregating platelets were markedly reduced, whereas those produced by bradykinin were only minimally affected. Endothelium-dependent responses produced by the calcium ionophore (A23187) and by adenosine diphosphate were not altered by pertussis toxin. 4. Pertussis toxin did not affect the direct, endothelium-independent relaxations produced by nitric oxide, or by adenosine diphosphate. 5. These experiments demonstrate that pertussis toxin interferes with the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s) evoked by certain, but not all, endothelial activators. The release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s) may occur through different pathways involving Gi-protein-dependent and independent mechanisms.

Adenylate Cyclase Toxin↗
PubMed1989

Canine arteries release two different endothelium-derived relaxing factors.

Experiments were designed to analyze the effects of ouabain on the response of vascular smooth muscle to endothelium-derived relaxing factors released under basal conditions and on stimulation with acetylcholine or bradykinin. Bioassay rings of canine coronary artery (without endothelium) were superfused with perfusate from canine left circumflex coronary arteries with endothelium (donor arteries). During contractions of the bioassay ring evoked by prostaglandin F2 alpha, the relaxations caused by endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s), released under basal conditions or on exposure of the endothelial cells of the donor artery to maximally effective concentrations of acetylcholine, were reduced by incubation of the bioassay ring with ouabain. However, the relaxations evoked by infusion of bradykinin were not altered by incubation of the bioassay rings with ouabain. These experiments demonstrate the release of two endothelium-derived relaxing factors that can be distinguished using ouabain.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1989

Muscarinic receptor reserve and beta-adrenergic sensitivity in tracheal smooth muscle.

The possibility that differences in beta-adrenergic sensitivity among canine trachealis muscles contracted with different contractile agonists are related to differences in the receptor-occupancy characteristics of the contractile agonists was investigated. Relaxation to isoproterenol was compared in muscles contracted with the muscarinic agonists McN-A-343 and acetylcholine (ACh). The apparent dissociation constant (pKB) values for the M1-antagonist, pirenzepine, against ACh (6.96 +/- 0.18) and McN-A-343 (6.84 +/- 0.08) were similar. The pKB values for the M3-antagonist 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide (4-DAMP) against ACh (8.76 +/- 0.13) and McN-A-343 (8.71 +/- 0.10) were also similar, suggesting that these agonists were activating the same subtype of muscarinic receptor, probably M3. However, the contractile response to ACh was associated with a greater receptor reserve than that for McN-A-343. Isoproterenol relaxed muscles contracted with McN-A-343 much more effectively than those contracted with an equieffective concentration of ACh. The results suggest that the relative resistance of ACh-induced contractions to relaxation by isoproterenol may not be an inherent quality of muscarinic receptor stimulation. The large receptor reserve available to ACh may act to buffer the contractile response from the inhibitory effects of beta-adrenergic stimulation. Alternatively, ACh may be able to initiate subcellular mechanisms that are unavailable to agonists of lower efficacy.

(4-(m-Chlorophenylcarbamoyloxy)-2-butynyl)trimethy↗
PubMed1989

Endothelium-dependent inhibition of ergonovine-induced contraction is impaired in porcine coronary arteries with regenerated endothelium.

The inhibitory effects of the endothelium against ergonovine-induced contraction were examined in isolated porcine coronary arteries under normal conditions and after endothelial regeneration. Endothelium-dependent responses were examined in vitro in normal Yorkshire pigs (n = 16) and in pigs that had undergone balloon endothelium removal of the left anterior descending coronary artery (LAD) 4 weeks before the study (n = 10). The presence of a complete endothelial lining was confirmed histologically. In rings from normal arteries contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha in the presence of indomethacin and ketanserin (a 5-HT2-serotonergic blocker), ergonovine caused endothelium-dependent relaxations. They were attenuated by rauwolscine (an alpha 2-adrenergic blocker), inhibited by methiothepin (a combined 5-HT1- and 5-HT2-serotonergic blocker) or by pertussis toxin (an inhibitor of several G proteins) and abolished by oxyhemoglobin (a selective inactivator of endothelium-derived relaxing factor). In quiescent rings from normal arteries, ergonovine caused contractions that were inhibited by the presence of the endothelium; this endothelium-dependent inhibition was abolished by oxyhemoglobin. The direct contractions were not affected by prazosin (an alpha 1-adrenergic blocker), rauwolscine, 6-hydroxydopamine (an agent causing chemical sympathetectomy), or diphenhydramine (an H1-histaminergic blocker) but were inhibited by ketanserin. In rings with regenerated endothelium contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha, the endothelium-dependent relaxations to ergonovine were reduced significantly and were not inhibited by pertussis toxin. In quiescent rings with regenerated endothelium, the endothelium-dependent inhibition of ergonovine-induced contraction was less.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗