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PubMed1993

Intracoronary linsidomine abolishes acetylcholine-induced vasoconstriction of epicardial coronary arteries.

If the vasodilation of the epicardial coronary arteries caused by linsidomine (SIN-1), the active metabolite of molsidomine, is well established, few data are available concerning the effects of SIN-1 on the acetylcholine (ACh)-induced vasoconstriction of epicardial coronary arteries. Fourteen patients with mild lesions of the left anterior descending artery (LAD) were studied. Intracoronary blood flow velocity was measured by a Doppler probe placed in the proximal segment of the LAD, and cross-sectional arterial area was assessed by quantitative angiography. After initial hemodynamic parameters were measured, 12 mg papaverine was injected into the left main coronary artery. When hemodynamic parameters returned to baseline values, three increasing concentrations of ACh (5 x 10(-7), 10(-6), and 5 x 10(-6) M) were selectively administered into the LAD in a 3 min period for each concentration. While the infusion of ACh 5 x 10(-6) M was continued, 1 mg SIN-1 was injected as a bolus in the ostium of the left coronary artery. After the injection of papaverine, blood flow increased by 197 +/- 8%, with a trend toward vasoconstriction of the proximal and distal segments of the LAD (p = NS). The ACh injection induced a dose-dependent vasoconstriction, reaching 51 +/- 20% on the distal segment of the LAD at the maximum concentration (p < 0.001). After an initial increase in coronary blood flow of 47 +/- 10 and 28 +/- 11% during the first two concentrations of ACh, respectively, the values decreased after the last injection to the level of baseline values. The infusion of SIN-1 antagonized the ACh-induced vasoconstriction, leading to vasodilation of 7.5 +/- 3% (p < 0.005) and 16 +/- 7% (p < 0.001) of the proximal and distal segments of the LAD, respectively; this was associated with an increase in intracoronary blood flow by 42 +/- 8%. We conclude that intracoronary administration of SIN-1 can antagonize the ACh-induced vasoconstriction of epicardial coronary arteries.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed2001

Hypoxic vasoconstriction of rat main pulmonary artery: role of endogenous nitric oxide, potassium channels, and phosphodiesterase inhibition.

This study investigated the influence of NO, potassium (K+) channel blockade, and the phosphodiesterase inhibitors (PDEIs) theophylline (non-selective PDEI), siguazodan (PDE3I), rolipram (PDE4I), and zaprinast (PDE5I) on rat isolated main pulmonary artery hypoxic (95% N2 and 5% CO2) vasoconstriction. Hypoxic vasoconstriction increased by 27% (p < 0.01) in the presence of the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME (10(-4) M), and by 15% (p < 0.05) in the presence of the K(ATP) channel blocker glibenclamide (10(-6) M), without potentiation by the combination of these two drugs. Hypoxic vasoconstriction decreased by 28% (p < 0.01) in presence of the Kv,-voltage-dependent channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (10(-3) M), whereas the other K+ channel blockers, charybdotoxin (BKCa, large-conductance Ca2+-sensitive K+ channels) and apamin (SKCa, small-conductance Ca2+-sensitive K+ channels) had no effect. The nonselective PDEI theophylline induced a concentration-dependent relaxation (pD2 = 4.05, Emax = 90% [expressed as a percentage of maximal relaxation induced by papaverine 10(-4) M]). Among the selective PDEIs, siguazodan was significantly (p < 0.01) more efficient than rolipram and zaprinast (Emax values were 84%, 67%, and 58%, respectively) and significantly (p < 0.05) more potent than zaprinast (pD2 values were 6.48, 6.34, and 6.16 for siguazodan, rolipram, and zaprinast). Glibenclamide and L-NAME significantly (p < 0.05) shifted the concentration-response curve (CRC) for zaprinast to the right, and L-NAME shifted the CRC significantly to the right for siguazodan. In the presence of L-NAME, glibenclamide had no effect on the CRC of zaprinast. We conclude that (a) NO exerts a permanent inhibitory effect against hypoxic vasoconstriction that might be mediated in part by an activation of K(ATP) channels; (b) a 4-aminopyridine-sensitive K+ channel is involved in vasoconstriction under hypoxic conditions; (c) PDEs 3 and 5 are the predominant PDE isoforms in rat pulmonary artery relaxation; and (d) NO and K(ATP), but neither BK(Ca), SK(Ca), nor Kv channels, are involved in the relaxant effect of PDEIs.

Animals↗
PubMed2003

Adenosine induces vasoconstriction through Gi-dependent activation of phospholipase C in isolated perfused afferent arterioles of mice.

Adenosine induces vasoconstriction of renal afferent arterioles through activation of A1 adenosine receptors (A1AR). A1AR are directly coupled to Gi/Go, resulting in inhibition of adenylate cyclase, but the contribution of this signaling pathway to smooth muscle cell activation is unclear. In perfused afferent arterioles from mouse kidney, adenosine and the A1 agonist N(6)-cyclohexyladenosine, when added to the bath, caused constriction in the concentration range of 10(-9) to 10(-6) M (mean diameter: control, 8.8 +/- 0.3 micro m; adenosine at 10(-6) M, 2.8 +/- 0.5 micro m). Adenosine-induced vasoconstriction was stable for up to 30 min and was most pronounced in the most distal part of the afferent arterioles. Adenosine did not cause vasoconstriction in arterioles from A1AR-/- mice. Pretreatment with pertussis toxin (PTX) (400 ng/ml) for 2 h blocked the vasoconstricting action of adenosine or N(6)-cyclohexyladenosine. PTX pretreatment did not affect the constriction response to KCl, whereas the angiotensin II dose-response relationship was shifted rightward. Reverse transcription-PCR revealed expression of Gi but not Go in kidney cortex and preglomerular vessels. The phospholipase C inhibitor U73122 (4 micro M) blocked the constriction responses to both adenosine and angiotensin II. In contrast, the adenylate cyclase inhibitor SQ22536 (10 micro M) and the protein kinase A antagonist KT5720 (0.1 and 1 micro M) did not induce significant vasoconstriction of afferent arterioles. It is concluded that the constriction response to adenosine in afferent arterioles is mediated by A1AR coupled to a PTX-sensitive Gi protein and subsequent activation of phospholipase C, presumably through betagamma subunits released from Galphai.

Adenosine↗
PubMed2006

Combined burn and smoke inhalation injury impairs ovine hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the effects of combined burn and smoke inhalation injury on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction, 3-nitrotyrosine formation, and respiratory function in adult sheep. DESIGN: Prospective, placebo-controlled, randomized, single-blinded trial. SETTING: University research laboratory. SUBJECTS: Twelve chronically instrumented ewes. INTERVENTIONS: Following a baseline measurement, sheep were randomly allocated to either healthy controls (sham) or the injury group, subjected to a 40%, third-degree body surface area burn and 48 breaths of cotton smoke according to an established protocol (n = 6 each). Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction was assessed as changes in pulmonary arterial blood flow (corrected for changes in cardiac index) in response to left lung hypoxic challenges performed at baseline and at 24 and 48 hrs postinjury. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Combined burn and smoke inhalation was associated with increased expression of inducible nitric oxide (NO) synthase, elevated NO2/NO3 (NOx) plasma levels (12 hrs, sham, 6.2 +/- 0.6; injury, 16 +/- 1.6 micromol.L; p < .01) and increased peroxynitrite formation, as indicated by augmented lung tissue 3-nitrotyrosine content (30 +/- 3 vs. 216 +/- 8 nM; p < .001). These biochemical changes occurred in parallel with pulmonary shunting, progressive decreases in Pao2/Fio2 ratio, and a loss of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (48 hrs, -90.5% vs. baseline; p < .001). Histopathology revealed pulmonary edema and airway obstruction as the morphologic correlates of the deterioration in gas exchange and the increases in airway pressures. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence for a severe impairment of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction following combined burn and smoke inhalation injury. In addition to airway obstruction, the loss of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction may help to explain why blood gases are within physiologic ranges for a certain time postinjury and then suddenly deteriorate.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Early aging and anatomic heterogeneity determine cyclooxygenase-mediated vasoconstriction to angiotensin II in mice.

We previously reported that angiotensin II (AngII)-induced vasoconstriction involves activation of cyclooxygenase (COX) in murine aorta and carotid artery. The aim of this study was to investigate the roles of early aging and COX in AngII-induced vasoconstriction in different vascular beds. Aortic, carotid, renal, and femoral artery rings of 19- and 34-week-old C57BL/6 mice were pretreated with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-NAME (300 micromol/L) to exclude effects of NO. Contractions to AngII (100 nmol/L) were recorded in the presence or absence of meclofenamate (10 micromol/L), a nonselective COX inhibitor. The results indicate a pronounced heterogeneity in the vascular responsiveness to AngII. Renal and femoral artery rings showed stronger contractions than aorta or carotid artery (P < 0.01 for both). In all vessels of young animals COX inhibition with meclofenamate only partially blocked vasoconstriction to AngII, whereas contractions were completely abolished in the aorta and carotid artery of older mice (P < 0.05 vs untreated for both). These data demonstrate that COX determines AngII-induced vasoconstriction in the mouse aorta and carotid artery during the early physiological aging process, independent of endothelial NO bioactivity. AngII-induced vasoconstriction in vessels more distal to the heart such as femoral and renal arteries is only in part mediated by COX-dependent mechanisms that remain unaffected by early aging.

Aging↗
PubMed1987

An in vitro analysis of purine-mediated renal vasoconstriction in rat isolated kidney.

In the rat isolated perfused kidney, 2-chloroadenosine and L-N6-phenyl-isopropyl adenosine (L-PIA) produced a modest vasodilatation. After kidneys had been pretreated with methoxamine (to elevate vascular tone) and forskolin (to activate adenyl cyclase and reduce vascular tone), both purine agonists produced vasoconstriction at low doses and vasodilatation at higher doses. This was consistent with the working hypothesis that vasoconstriction resulted from activation of A1-purinoceptors mediating adenyl cyclase inhibition and vasodilatation from activation of A2-purinoceptors stimulating adenyl cyclase. These kidney preparations also demonstrated a marked potentiation of purine-mediated vasoconstriction in the presence of various concentrations of 8-p-sulpho-phenyltheophylline (8-SPT), a drug reported in the literature to be a competitive antagonist of A1- and A2-purinoceptors. Maximal renal vasoconstriction to 2-chloroadenosine and L-PIA was observed in the presence of 10 mM 8-SPT; the fact that this vasoconstriction was sensitive to the selective A1-receptor antagonist 8-(2-amino-4-chlorophenyl)-1,3-dipropylxanthine (PACPX) and that the order of potency of agonists for this effect was L-PIA greater than 2-chloroadenosine greater than D-PIA greater than N6-ethylcarboxamide adenosine (NECA) was consistent with activation of vascular A1-purinoceptors. While these data are consistent with the hypothesis that purines activate vascular A1- and A2-receptors in the rat isolated kidney, the nature of the results did not allow definitive classification of the receptors mediating the purine effects.

2-Chloroadenosine↗
PubMed1992

Vasoconstriction of guinea-pig submucosal arterioles following sympathetic nerve stimulation is mediated by the release of ATP.

1. The nature of the transmitter mediating vasoconstriction of guinea-pig submucosal arterioles following sympathetic nerve stimulation was studied. 2. Prazosin (0.1 microM) abolished the response to exogenously applied phenylephrine (1 microM) but had no effect on constrictions of submucosal arterioles evoked by nerve stimulation (100 pulses at 10 Hz). 3. Vasoconstrictions and excitatory junction potentials elicited by nerve stimulation were potentiated by idazoxan (0.1 microM). 4. Following reserpine treatment, catecholamine fluorescence was absent in submucosal arterioles but nerve-evoked vasoconstrictions were unaltered. 5. Vasoconstrictions and excitatory junction potentials recorded in response to sympathetic nerve stimulation, as well as constrictions evoked by exogenously applied ATP (3 microM), were abolished by the P2-purinoceptor antagonist, suramin (100 microM). Suramin had no effect on the vasoconstriction in response to noradrenaline (3 microM), or the nicotinic excitatory postsynaptic potentials (e.p.s.ps) and noradrenergic inhibitory postsynaptic potentials (i.p.s.ps) recorded from submucosal neurones. 6. We conclude that postjunctional responses of submucosal arterioles following sympathetic nerve stimulation are mediated solely through the activation of P2X-purinoceptors by ATP or a related purine nucleotide. The function of neurally released noradrenaline is to act through prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors to depress transmitter release.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗
PubMed1995

Prostacyclin aerosol and inhaled nitric oxide fail to reverse pulmonary vasoconstriction induced by thromboxane analogue in dogs.

Inhalation of either prostacyclin (PGI2) as an aerosol or nitric oxide (NO) has been shown to elicit selective pulmonary vasodilation during hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in dogs. Hypoxia may produce cardiovascular changes confounding interpretation of drug effects. Therefore, we investigated the effects of PGI2-aerosol and inhaled NO (50 p.p.m.) on pulmonary pressure-flow relationships (P/Q plots) during thromboxane analogue (U46619) induced pulmonary vasoconstriction. In eight anaesthetized dogs infusion of U46619 (0.33 +/- 0.18 micrograms kg-1 min-1) increased the slope (3.5 +/- 1.1 to 8.4 +/- 1.7 mmHg L-1 min-1, P < 0.001) and the intercept (4.4 +/- 2.3 to 10.2 +/- 4.6 mmHg, P < 0.01) of P/Q plots indicating pulmonary vasoconstriction. Inhalation of both aerosolized PGI2 solution (10 micrograms mL-1) and NO (50 p.p.m.) reduced neither the slope nor the intercept of the P/Q plots. Increasing the concentration of the aerosolized PGI2 solution to 50 micrograms mL-1 (n = 3) did not enhance the effect on pulmonary circulation but systemic vascular resistance fell by 23%. Oxygenation and intrapulmonary shunt remained unchanged during both PGI2-aerosol and inhaled NO. The failure of PGI2-aerosol to induce pulmonary vasodilation indicates that during aerosolization PGI2-concentrations at receptor sites on pulmonary vessels were insufficient to surmount U46619 induced vasoconstriction; this notion is supported by unchanged arterial plasma concentrations of the PGI2 degradation product 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. Considering that NO inhaled at comparable concentrations in sheep reversed U46619 induced pulmonary vasoconstriction, species differences may account for the failure of both PGI2-aerosol and NO to dilate pulmonary vessels in dogs.

15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5↗
PubMed1978

H1 and H2 histamine actions on lung vessels; their relevance to hypoxic vasoconstriction.

Pulmonary vasomotor actions of histamine and the possible relationship of histamine to hypoxic pulmonary vasconstriction were studied in anaesthetized cats with one lobe of lung perfused at constant flow and in isolated perfused rat and ferret lungs. In the cat histamine caused dilatation, biphasic responses and constriction with increasing doses. Histamine induced dilatation was better demonstrated during hypoxic vasoconstriction and was reduced by an H2 histamine antagonist; constriction with histamine was abolished by an H1 antagonist. Histamine also caused both vasodilatation and vasoconstriction in ferret lungs. A mast cell stabilizing agent had no effect on hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction in cats or rats. This response was unaffected in cats but greatly reduced in rats and ferrets by cyproheptadine, a combined histamine and 5-hydroxy-tryptamine inhibitor. It was unaffected in cats but abolished in ferrets an H1 histamine inhibitor. It was again unaffected in cats but greatly reduced in rats and ferrets by an H2 histamine inhibitor. These species differences may reflect differences in mechanism but more probably reflect non-specific effects of the inhibitors in certain circumstances. However, when drugs nearly abolished hypoxic vasoconstriction, ATP still caused vasoconstriction.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

The relationship between hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and arterial oxygen tension in the intact dog.

The relationship between the magnitude of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (h.p.v.) and arterial oxygen tension (Pa,O2) has been studied in intact anaesthetized dogs. Radioactive 133Xe was infused continuously into the inferior vena cava. A tracheal divider made it possible to vary the inspired gas composition to each lung independently. With constant ventilation the 133Xe in the mixed expired gas from each lung was proportional to the blood flow to that lung. Unilateral ventilation of the left lung with 7% oxygen produced a diversion of blood flow away from the lung and a reduction in Pa,O2. Repeated hypoxic stimuli produced a progressively greater reduction in the blood flow to the hypoxic lung and a progressive increase in Pa,O2. Administration of a beta-adrenergic agonist, dobutamine hydrochloride, during ventilation of the left lung with 7% oxygen, resulted in an increased blood flow to the left lung and a further decrease in Pa,O2. Addition of CO2 to the inspired gas resulted in an increased diversion of blood flow away from the hypoxic lung but a decrease in Pa,O2. Respiratory alkalosis induced by over-ventilation decreased the hypoxic vasoconstriction and increased Pa,O2 slightly. However acid-base changes induced by infusion of 1 N-lactic acid or 8.4% NaHCO3 had no significant effects on the magnitude of the hypoxic vasoconstriction, or on Pa,O2, during hypoxic ventilation of the left lung. The magnitude of hypoxic vasoconstriction and Pa,O2 in the experiments described in 3, 4 and 5 above were positively correlated (r = 0.885), showing that the vasoconstriction may help to maintain Pa,O2. It is suggested that the effects of CO2 on h.p.v. and Pa,O2 may be explained largely by the changes in alveolar oxygen pressure (PA,O2) which are secondary to changes in PA,CO2.

Acid-Base Equilibrium↗
PubMed2006

Exercise-induced inhibition of angiotensin II vasoconstriction in human thigh muscle.

It is well established that metabolic inhibition of adrenergic vasoconstriction contributes to the maintenance of adequate perfusion to exercising skeletal muscle. However, little is known regarding nonadrenergic vasoconstriction during exercise. We tested the hypothesis that a non-adrenergic vasoconstrictor, angiotensin II (AngII), would be less sensitive to metabolic inhibition than an alpha1-agonist, phenylephrine (PE), in the exercising human thigh. In 11 healthy men, femoral blood flow (FBF, ultrasound Doppler and thermodilution) and blood pressure were evaluated during wide-ranging doses of intra-arterial (femoral) infusions of PE and AngII at rest and during two workloads of steady-state knee-extensor exercise (7 W and 27 W). At rest, the maximal decrease in femoral artery diameter (FAD) during AngII (9.0+/-0.2 to 8.4+/-0.4 mm) was markedly less than during PE (9.0+/-0.3 to 5.7+/-0.5 mm), whereas maximal reductions in FBF and femoral vascular conductance (FVC) were similar during AngII (FBF: -65+/-6 and FVC: -66+/-6%) and PE (-57+/-5 and -59+/-4%). During exercise, FAD was not changed by AngII, but moderately decreased by PE. The maximal reductions in FBF and FVC were blunted during exercise compared to rest for both AngII (7 W: -28+/-5 and -40+/-5%; 27 W: -15+/-4% and -29+/-5%) and PE (7 W: -30+/-4 and -37+/-6%; 27 W: -15+/-2 and -24+/-6%), with no significant differences between drugs. The major new findings are (1) an exercise-induced intensity-dependent metabolic attenuation of non-adrenergic vasoconstriction in the human leg; and (2) functional evidence that AngII-vasoconstriction is predominantly distal, whereas alpha1-vasoconstriction is proximal and distal within the muscle vascular bed of the human thigh.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed2004

Vasoconstrictive effects of endothelin-1, endothelin-3, and urotensin II in isolated perfused human lungs and isolated human pulmonary arteries.

BACKGROUND: Urotensin II (UII) has been identified as a ligand for the orphan receptor GPR14 through which it elicits potent vasoconstriction in humans and non-human primates. The pulmonary vasculature is particularly sensitive; human UII (hUII) exhibits a potency 28 times that of endothelin (ET)-1 in isolated pulmonary arteries obtained from cynomolgus monkeys. However, hUII induced vasoconstriction in isolated human intralobar pulmonary arteries is variable, possibly as a result of location dependent differences in receptor density or because it is only uncovered by disease dependent endothelial dysfunction. METHODS: The vasoactivity of both hUII and gobi UII (gUII) in comparison with ET-1 and ET-3 was studied in isolated perfused lung preparations (n = 14) and isolated intralobar pulmonary arteries (n = 40, mean diameter 548 (27) microm) obtained from 17 men of mean (SE) age 67 (2) years and eight women of mean (SE) age 65 (3) years with a variety of vascular diseases. RESULTS: ET-1 (10 pM-100 nM) and ET-3 (10 pM-30 nM) elicited vasoconstriction in the lung preparations, inducing comparable increases in pulmonary arterial pressure of 24.8 (4.5) mm Hg and 14.5 (4.9) mm Hg, respectively, at 30 nM (p = 0.13). Similarly, ET-1 (10 pM-300 nM) and ET-3 (10 pM-100 nM) caused marked vasoconstriction in isolated pulmonary arteries, inducing maximal changes in tension of 4.36 (0.26) mN/mm and 1.54 (0.44) mN/mm, respectively, generating -logEC(50) values of 7.67 (0.04) M and 8.08 (0.07) M, respectively (both p<0.05). However, neither hUII nor gUII (both 10 pM-1 micro M) had any vasoactive effect in either preparation. CONCLUSION: UII does not induce vasoconstriction in isolated human pulmonary arterial or lung preparations and is therefore unlikely to be involved in the control of pulmonary vascular tone.

Aged↗
PubMed2006

Role of PKC in the novel synergistic action of urotensin II and angiotensin II and in urotensin II-induced vasoconstriction.

The intracellular signaling of human urotensin II (hU-II) and its interaction with other vasoconstrictors such as ANG II are poorly understood. In endothelium-denuded rat aorta, coadministration of hU-II (1 nM) and ANG II (2 nM) exerted a significant contractile effect that was associated with increased protein kinase C (PKC) activity and phosphorylation of PKC-alpha/betaII and myosin light chain, whereas either hU-II or ANG II administered alone at these concentrations had no statistically significant effect. This synergistic effect was abrogated by the PKC inhibitor chelerythrine (10 and 30 microM), the selective PKC-alpha/betaII inhibitor Gö-6976 (0.1 and 1 microM), the hU-II receptor ligand urantide (30 nM and 1 microM), or the ANG II antagonist losartan (1 microM). Moreover, in endothelium-intact rat aorta, the synergistic effect of hU-II and ANG II was not exerted any longer, and this synergistic effect was unmasked by pretreatment of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester. hU-II (10 nM) alone caused a long-lasting increase in phospho-PKC-theta, phospho-myosin light chain, and PKC activity, which was associated with long-lasting vasoconstriction. These changes were prevented by chelerythrine. Methoxyverapamil-thapsigargin treatment reduced the hU-II-induced vasoconstriction by approximately 50%. The methoxyverapamil-thapsigargin-resistant component of hU-II-induced vasoconstriction was dose-dependently inhibited by chelerythrine. In conclusion, hU-II induces a novel PKC-dependent synergistic action with ANG II in inducing vasoconstriction. PKC-alpha/betaII is probably the PKC isoform involved in this synergistic action. Nitric oxide produced in the endothelium probably masks this synergistic action. The long-lasting vasoconstriction induced by hU-II alone is PKC dependent and associated with PKC-theta phosphorylation.

Angiotensin II↗
PubMed1981

Mechanism of coronary vasoconstriction induced by carbocyclic thromboxane A2.

The mechanism of carbocyclic thromboxane A2 (CTA2) vasoconstriction was studied in thoracic aortic strips and isolated perfused cat coronary arteries. CTA2, a stable thromboxane analog, produced coronary constriction at 50 pg/ml or greater. At constant flow, 5 ng/ml CTA2 increased perfusion pressure 40 +/- 4 mmHg. The calcium antagonist nifedipine reduced CTA2-induced vasoconstriction by 8% at 1 ng/ml (NS), 22% at 10 ng/ml (NS), 65% at 100 ng/ml (P less than 0.01), and 75% at 1,000 ng/ml (P less than 0.005). Other calcium antagonists also significantly reduced CTA2-induced coronary constriction. Inhibition of vasoconstriction by calcium antagonists was not due to direct thromboxane-receptor antagonism, inasmuch as nifedipine did not prevent CTA2-induced contraction in cat aortas, vessels that are not dependent on external calcium for contraction. Reducing external Ca2+ concentration to 0.63 mM significantly reduced coronary constriction over most of the CTA2 concentration-response range. Phentolamine (1-50 micrograms/ml), phenoxybenzamine (1-100 micrograms/ml), and saralasin (0.1-10 micrograms/ml) were all without significant effect on CTA2-induced coronary constriction. The results indicate that the mechanism of thromboxane coronary vasoconstriction is by a specific thromboxane receptor that is dependent on an inward calcium flux. The data also suggest that the efficacy of calcium antagonists in coronary vasospasm may be related to their ability to noncompetitively inhibit thromboxane-induced vasoconstriction.

Animals↗
PubMed1983

Intrarenal blood flow distribution during adenosine-mediated vasoconstriction.

Intrarenal infusion of adenosine induces an initial vasoconstriction followed by a subsequent vasodilation. The intrarenal distribution of blood flow in the vasoconstriction phase is unknown. The present study was undertaken to assess the effect of intrarenal infusion of adenosine on intracortical distribution of renal blood flow during both the vasoconstriction and vasodilation phases. Renal blood flow distribution was measured with radiolabeled microspheres in anesthetized sodium-depleted dogs before and during the early vasoconstriction phase and the late vasodilation phase of intrarenal infusion of adenosine. During the vasoconstriction phase, there was a uniform decrease in blood flow in each renal cortical zone. In the late phase of adenosine infusion, there was a significant increase in deep cortical flow without significant changes in superficial cortical flow compared with control. The effects of adenosine were also compared with those exerted by norepinephrine in which decreased blood flow was demonstrated in all zones. We conclude that the vasoconstrictor phase of adenosine infusion is characterized by a uniform reduction of renal blood flow to all cortical zones, whereas the vasodilator phase is characterized by a selective deep cortical vasodilation.

Adenosine↗
PubMed1985

BAY K 8644 potentiates and A23187 inhibits hypoxic vasoconstriction in rat lungs.

The susceptibility of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction to inhibition by Ca2+ channel antagonists suggests that membrane depolarization and Ca2+ influx are components of the hypoxic mechanism. Recent characterization of BAY K 8644 as a 1,4-dihydropyridine that facilitates Ca2+ influx through partially activated voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels provides a new pharmacological tool to further test this idea. Effects of BAY K 8644 on normoxic vascular tone and on hypoxic and angiotensin II-induced vasoconstriction were examined in isolated rat lungs perfused with either blood or physiological salt solution (PSS) containing meclofenamate. Parallel experiments were performed with the Ca2+ ionophore A23187 for comparison with a Ca2+-active agent that does not act selectively on the voltage-dependent Ca2+ channel. Addition of BAY K 8644 (10(-7) to 10(-5) M) to the perfusate did not alter base-line vascular tone of the normoxic lung, but it potentiated hypoxic and angiotensin II pressor responses. For example, addition of 10(-7) M BAY K 8644 to five PSS-perfused lungs increased the hypoxic (5% O2) pressor response from 8.7 +/- 2.1 to 19.5 +/- 4.2 Torr and the angiotensin II (0.1 micrograms) response from 2.1 +/- 0.4 to 6.5 +/- 2.0 Torr. In contrast, addition of A23187 (10(-7) to 10(-6) M) to the perfusate increased normoxic perfusion pressure and inhibited hypoxic vasoconstriction. The respective effects of BAY K 8644 and A23187 were essentially the same in both blood- and PSS-perfused lungs. These results indicate that a Ca2+ channel facilitator and a Ca2+ ionophore have diametric effects on pulmonary vasoreactivity. The marked potentiation of hypoxic vasoconstriction by BAY K 8644 supports the idea that activation of voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels is an important component of the mechanism of hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗
PubMed1986

5-Hydroxytryptamine delays relaxation time of norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction.

The effect of low concentration of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; 0.03-0.3 microM) on cellular and extracellular Ca2+ -dependent norepinephrine (NE; 5 microM)-induced vasoconstriction was assessed in isolated perfused rabbit ear artery. The most remarkable effect of 5-HT is a concentration-dependent enhancement of the duration of the extracellular Ca2+ -dependent NE-induced vasoconstriction. This effect of 5-HT is still present in 6-hydroxydopamine-pretreated arteries and in the presence of deoxycorticosterone and is not mimicked by the K+ channel blocker tetraethylammonium. Administration of nifedipine (0.3 microM) and EDTA (1 mM) failed to antagonize 5-HT-induced prolongation of relaxation kinetics of extracellular Ca2+ -dependent NE-induced vasoconstriction. On the other hand, this phenomenon was abolished by caffeine (15 mM) and markedly reduced by dibutyryl cyclic AMP (3 mM). 5-HT (0.3 microM), but not NE (30-50 nM), enhanced the vasoconstriction elicited by caffeine (15 mM) that was procaine sensitive and unaffected by nifedipine. These results suggest that 5-HT prolonged relaxation kinetics of NE-induced vasoconstriction through an impairment of cellular mechanisms that decrease the myoplasmic level of free Ca2+. A similar mechanism could be of relevance for 5-HT enhancement of vascular smooth muscle responsiveness to vasoactive agents.

Animals↗
PubMed1988

Postsynaptic adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction in coronary and femoral vascular beds.

This study examined the response to intra-arterial norepinephrine and sympathetic nerve stimulation on perfusion pressure of cannulated dog femoral and left circumflex coronary arteries perfused at constant flow rates. Sympathetic nerve stimulation was delivered through the decentralized inferior cardiac nerve and the lumbar sympathetic chain; beta-adrenergic blockade was maintained with propranolol. In the coronary artery, the vasoconstrictor response to norepinephrine was blunted by alpha 1-adrenergic blockade with prazosin but was abolished by alpha 2-adrenergic blockade with rauwolscine, indicating postsynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction. In the femoral artery, prazosin decreased norepinephrine-induced vasoconstriction by 20-40%; the subsequent addition of rauwolscine completely abolished vasoconstriction, indicating that both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors contributed to vasoconstriction. Sympathetic nerve stimulation produced frequency-dependent increases of perfusion pressure in both coronary and femoral vascular beds. Prazosin caused approximately 50% reduction in the vasoconstrictor response of the coronary vascular bed and approximately 30% reduction in the femoral bed. The addition of rauwolscine completely blocked the response to sympathetic nerve stimulation in coronary and femoral vascular beds. These studies demonstrate that postsynaptic alpha 2-adrenoceptor-mediated mechanisms participate in vasoconstriction in response to both exogenous norepinephrine and sympathetic nerve stimulation in the canine coronary and femoral vascular beds.

Adrenergic beta-Antagonists↗