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PubMed2002

Smooth muscle membrane potential modulates endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat basilar artery via myo-endothelial gap junctions.

The release of endothelium-derived relaxing factors, such as nitric oxide (NO), is dependent on an increase in intracellular calcium levels ([Ca(2+)](i)) within endothelial cells. Endothelial cell membrane potential plays a critical role in the regulation of [Ca(2+)](i) in that calcium influx from the extracellular space is dependent on membrane hyperpolarization. In this study, the effect of inhibition of vascular smooth muscle delayed rectifier K(+) (K(DR)) channels by 4-aminopyridine (4-AP) on endothelium-dependent relaxation of rat basilar artery to acetylcholine (ACh) was assessed. ACh-evoked endothelium-dependent relaxations were inhibited by N-(Omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) or 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), confirming a role for NO and guanylyl cyclase. 4-AP (300 microM) also suppressed ACh-induced relaxation, with the maximal response reduced from approximately 92 to approximately 33 % (n = 11; P < 0.01). However, relaxations in response to exogenous NO, applied in the form of authentic NO, sodium nitroprusside or diethylamineNONOate (DEANONOate), were not affected by 4-AP treatment (n = 3-11). These data are not consistent with the view that 4-AP-sensitive K(DR) channels are mediators of vascular hyperpolarization and relaxation in response to endothelium-derived NO. Inhibition of ACh-evoked relaxation by 4-AP was reversed by pinacidil (0.5-1 microM; n = 5) or 18beta-glycyrrhetinic acid (18betaGA; 5 microM; n = 5), indicating that depolarization and electrical coupling of the smooth muscle to the endothelium were involved. 4-AP caused depolarization of both endothelial and vascular smooth muscle cells of isolated segments of basilar artery (mean change 11 +/- 1 and 9 +/- 2 mV, respectively; n = 15). Significantly, 18betaGA almost completely prevented the depolarization of endothelial cells (n = 6), but not smooth muscle cells (n = 6) by 4-AP. ACh-induced hyperpolarization of endothelium and smooth muscle cells was also reduced by 4-AP, but this inhibition was not observed in the combined presence of 4-AP and 18betaGA. These data indicate that 4-AP can induce an indirect inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation in the rat basilar artery by electrical coupling of smooth muscle membrane depolarization to the endothelium via myo-endothelial gap junctions.

4-Aminopyridine↗
PubMed1988

Endothelium inhibits norepinephrine release from adrenergic nerves of rabbit carotid artery.

The overflow of endogenous norepinephrine caused by transmural electrical stimulation or depolarization with potassium was smaller in superfused segments of the rabbit carotid artery with intact endothelium than in segments denuded of endothelium. In segments preincubated with [3H]norepinephrine, the lesser overflow was found to be partially due to metabolism by the endothelium of the neurotransmitter. Even after treatment to block the disposition of norepinephrine, the endothelium acted as a partial physical barrier to the overflow of norepinephrine into the lumen of arteries superfused and perfused selectively. However, a lesser overflow of norepinephrine to the adventitia of the artery accounted for the majority of the difference in overflow between segments with and without endothelium. The inhibition by the endothelium of the overflow of norepinephrine from adrenergic nerves was unaffected by blocking prejunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors, prostaglandin synthesis, free radicals, or guanylate cyclase. Vasodilators released from the endothelium of a donor artery inhibited contractions caused by adrenergic nerve stimulation of a bioassay artery but failed to inhibit norepinephrine release. These observations indicate that the endothelium 1) metabolizes norepinephrine, 2) acts as a physical barrier to its overflow into the blood vessel lumen, and 3) inhibits the release of the adrenergic transmitter from adrenergic nerves.

Adrenergic Fibers↗
PubMed1988

Enhanced release of endothelium-derived factor(s) by chronic increases in blood flow.

Chronic increases in blood flow caused by an arteriovenous fistula augment endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine. To determine whether endothelial muscarinic receptors are altered, concentration-response curves to acetylcholine were obtained in the presence of pirenzepine in fistula- and sham-operated canine femoral arteries. Pirenzepine inhibited the response to acetylcholine in both arteries. The pA2 (log Kb) for the antagonist was the same. A bioassay system was used to assess release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. Rings of femoral artery (without endothelium) from unoperated dogs relaxed more when superfused with perfusate derived from endothelium of fistula-operated arteries during acetylcholine stimulation. Rings without endothelium of sham- and fistula-operated arteries relaxed to the same extent when superfused with perfusate derived from the endothelium of unoperated femoral arteries. These results suggest that augmented relaxations to acetylcholine in canine arteries where blood flow is chronically elevated do not result from changes in the subtype of endothelial muscarinic receptors or in the sensitivity of the underlying smooth muscle to endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s). They are likely due to increased release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s) on muscarinic activation.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1989

Contraction of diabetic rabbit aorta caused by endothelium-derived PGH2-TxA2.

Endothelium-dependent relaxations and vasoactive prostanoid production caused by acetylcholine were determined in the aortas of rabbits with diabetes mellitus induced by alloxan. Aortas of diabetic rabbits, contracted submaximally by phenylephrine, showed significantly decreased endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by acetylcholine compared with the aortas of normal rabbits. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, and SQ 29548, a prostaglandin H2-thromboxane A2 (PGH2-TxA2) receptor antagonist, normalized the sensitivity of diabetic aortas to acetylcholine, whereas these agents had no effect on the response of normal aortas. The relaxations in response to a nonreceptor-mediated endothelium-dependent vasodilator, A23187, and an endothelium-independent vasodilator, sodium nitroprusside, were not different between normal and diabetic aortas. Acetylcholine also caused contractions of resting aortic rings with endothelium from diabetic, but not normal rabbits; these contractions were inhibited by indomethacin. Synthesis of TxA2, measured as immunoreactive TxB2, was significantly increased in diabetic aortic segments only when the endothelium was present. These results suggest that in the diabetic state, the endothelium releases a major vasoconstrictor cyclooxygenase product that either directly counteracts the relaxation caused by or selectively interferes with the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor(s) induced by cholinergic receptor stimulation. The vasoconstrictor is most likely TxA2 or possibly its precursor, PGH2.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1991

Endothelium-dependent vasodilation of canine coronary collateral vessels.

The objective of this study was to determine whether endothelium-mediated relaxation occurs in canine coronary collateral vessels. Responses to endothelium-dependent vasodilators in coronary collateral vessels (250-350 microns) were compared with those obtained in normal native coronary arteries of similar size. Rings of small arteries and collateral vessels were suspended in baths, and tension was recorded. All rings were constricted with prostaglandin F2 alpha (3 microM) and subsequently exposed to cumulative concentrations of acetylcholine or bradykinin. In separate experiments, the procedure was repeated in the presence of 300 microM NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) to inhibit endothelium-mediated vasodilation. Endothelium-dependent relaxation was further studied in the presence of indomethacin, and endothelium-independent relaxation was examined with sodium nitroprusside. Acetylcholine and bradykinin relaxed both normal native and collateral rings. In preconstricted small arteries and collateral vessels the concentration at 50% of maximal response of acetylcholine was 85.5 +/- 19.5 and 61.0 +/- 14.0 microns, and bradykinin was 11.9 +/- 7.4 and 10.7 +/- 2.1 microns, respectively. L-NMMA attenuated the response to acetylcholine and bradykinin in both groups. The results indicate that endothelium is present and functional in canine coronary collateral vessels. Both small coronary arteries and collateral vessels are equally responsive to endothelium-dependent vasodilators and inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxing factor.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1995

Endothelium-dependent and -independent vasodilation of isolated rat aorta induced by caffeine.

Caffeine (10(-4)-10(-3) M) induced concentration-dependent relaxations of phenylephrine-precontracted rat aortic rings with endothelium. Endothelial denudation significantly, but only partially, attenuated caffeine-induced relaxation. Pretreatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine, oxyhemoglobin, and methylene blue attenuated the relaxations to an extent similar to endothelial denudation. Guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) and adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) contents of aortic strips with endothelium increased significantly after exposure to caffeine (10(-3) M). Endothelial denudation attenuated caffeine-induced cGMP increase. Pretreatment with ryanodine (2 x 10(-5) M), which has been shown to combine with receptors on endoplasmic reticulum (ER) of endothelium, attenuated caffeine-induced relaxation and cGMP content increase of rings with endothelium. Pretreatment with caffeine potentiated sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxations and cGMP increase of rings without endothelium. These results demonstrated that caffeine-induced relaxation comprises two components. In the endothelium-dependent mechanism, caffeine promotes nitric oxide synthesis in endothelium by release of Ca2+ from ER through a ryanodine-sensitive Ca2+ channel, and the suppression of cGMP degradation also contributes to the relaxation. In the endothelium-independent mechanism, caffeine acts as a 3',5'-cyclic-nucleotide phosphodiesterase inhibitor.

Animals↗
PubMed1996

Modulation of endothelium-derived nitric oxide in canine femoral veins.

Experiments were designed to determine whether nitric oxide was the mediator of increased endothelium-dependent relaxations in veins proximal to an arteriovenous fistula. A fistula was prepared between femoral arteries and veins in dogs. After 6 wk, veins proximal to the fistula were removed, cut into rings, and suspended for the measurement of isometric force in organ chambers. In some rings the endothelium was removed deliberately. NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) caused contraction in three of six fistula-operated veins with and without endothelium. In rings contracted submaximally with prostaglandin F2 alpha, acetylcholine and the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist UK-14,304 cause e tylcholine and the alpha 2-adrenergic agonist UK-14,304 caused endothelium-dependent, concentration-dependent relaxations that were greater in fistula compared with sham-operated veins. These relaxations were reduced by L-NMMA. Calcium ionophore A23187 caused comparable endothelium-dependent relaxations in fistula- and sham-operated veins that were unaffected by L-NMMA. There were no differences in either calcium-dependent or -independent activity of nitric oxide synthase isolated from fistula- and sham-operated veins. Positive staining for nitric oxide synthase was present in both the endothelium and media of fistula-operated veins. These results indicate that nitric oxide mediates increased endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine and alpha 2-adrenergic agonists in fistula-operated veins. Therefore, chronic increases in blood flow and oxygen tension modify selectively receptor-coupled production of nitric oxide in endothelium and smooth muscle of veins.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗
PubMed2005

Involvement of JAM-A in mononuclear cell recruitment on inflamed or atherosclerotic endothelium: inhibition by soluble JAM-A.

OBJECTIVE: The junctional adhesion molecule (JAM)-A on endothelium contributes to the inflammatory recruitment of mononuclear cells involving engagement of its integrin receptor lymphocyte function-associated antigen (LFA)-1. It is unknown whether these functions can be inhibited by soluble forms of JAM-A, whether JAM-A is expressed on atherosclerotic endothelium, and whether it participates in atherogenic recruitment of mononuclear cells. METHODS AND RESULTS: Adhesion assays revealed that LFA-1-mediated binding of mononuclear cells to intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-1 or cytokine-costimulated endothelium was dose-dependently inhibited by soluble JAM-A.Fc (sJAM-A.Fc). Similarly, sJAM-A.Fc reduced stromal cell-derived factor (SDF)-1alpha-triggered transendothelial chemotaxis of activated T cells and their SDF-1alpha-triggered arrest on cytokine-costimulated endothelium under flow conditions. Immunofluorescence analysis revealed an upregulation of JAM-A on early atherosclerotic endothelium of carotid arteries from apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE-/-) mice fed an atherogenic diet. In ex vivo perfusion assays, pretreatment of mononuclear cells with sJAM-A.Fc inhibited their very late antigen (VLA)-4-independent accumulation on atherosclerotic endothelium of these arteries. CONCLUSIONS: Soluble forms of JAM-A can be effectively applied to inhibit distinct steps of mononuclear cell recruitment on inflamed or atherosclerotic endothelium. In conjunction with its expression on atherosclerotic endothelium, this suggests a functional contribution of JAM-A to atherogenesis.

Animals↗
PubMed1989

Endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to aggregating platelets in porcine femoral veins and its modulation by diet.

The present study examined the protective role of the venous endothelium against aggregating platelets and its modulation by diet. Yorkshire pigs were fed a regular chow (control pigs), 2% high-cholesterol diet (for 10 weeks, cholesterol-fed pigs), and regular chow plus cod-liver oil (30 ml/day for 4 weeks, oil-fed pigs). Endothelium-dependent responses were examined in vitro in rings of femoral veins in the presence of the inhibitor of cyclooxygenase indomethacin. In control pigs, aggregating platelets, serotonin, and ADP caused endothelium-dependent relaxations. The platelet-induced relaxations were attenuated by methiothepin (a combined 5-HT1 and 5-HT2 serotonergic blocker) or apyrase (an ADPase and ATPase) and were abolished by the combination of the two agents. In quiescent rings, platelets caused contractions, which were reduced in the presence of endothelium; the contractions were prevented by ketanserin (a 5-HT2 serotonergic blocker) or methiothepin but not by R 68 070 (a thromboxane A2 receptor blocker) or dazoxiben (a thromboxane-synthetase blocker). In cholesterol-fed pigs, the platelet-induced relaxations were not altered, whereas in oil-fed pigs, the endothelium-dependent relaxations to platelets, serotonin, and ADP were augmented. Platelet-induced contractions were significantly reduced in rings with endothelium from oil-fed pigs, whereas the contractions were comparable in rings without endothelium among the three groups. Endothelium-dependent relaxations in response to the calcium ionophore A23187, direct relaxations in response to sodium nitroprusside, and direct contractions in response to potassium chloride were comparable among the three groups.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Adenosine Diphosphate↗
PubMed1990

Alteration of endothelium-dependent distribution of myocardial blood flow after coronary occlusion and reperfusion.

We have previously demonstrated that intracoronary infusion of the endothelium-dependent vasodilators acetylcholine, ATP, or arachidonic acid produces a preferential increase in subendocardial blood flow in anesthetized dogs. This study was performed to assess the effects of coronary artery occlusion and reperfusion on the distribution of myocardial blood flow produced by endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vasodilators. The endothelium was damaged by occlusion of the left anterior descending coronary artery for 45 minutes followed by 60 minutes of reperfusion in pentobarbital-anesthetized dogs. Intracoronary infusions of the endothelium-dependent vasodilators acetylcholine, bradykinin and thiazolylethylamine or the endothelium-independent vasodilator sodium nitroprusside were performed, and regional myocardial blood flow (by radioactive microspheres) was measured before and after occlusion and reperfusion. There were no changes in systemic hemodynamics during intracoronary infusion of vasodilators before or after coronary occlusion and reperfusion. All vasodilators produced similar increases in transmural blood flow before occlusion; however, only the endothelium-dependent vasodilators produced a significant increase in the subendocardial-to-subepicardial blood flow ratio. Increases in transmural flow as well as the preferential increase in subendocardial blood flow produced by acetylcholine, bradykinin, and thiazolylethylamine were attenuated after coronary occlusion and reperfusion. In contrast, increases in transmural blood flow produced by sodium nitroprusside were unchanged. These results suggest that the preferential increase in subendocardial perfusion produced by acetylcholine, bradykinin, and thiazolylethylamine is endothelium-dependent and may be selectively modified by ischemic insult.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1992

Brief ischemia-reperfusion induces stunning of endothelium in canine coronary artery.

BACKGROUND: Brief ischemic episodes that induce stunning of the myocardium may also induce stunning of the coronary endothelium. To test this hypothesis, we examined both in vivo and in vitro responses of canine coronary arteries exposed to brief ischemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: Functional recovery of the endothelium was examined in vivo during reperfusion after 15 minutes of ischemia. Vasodilatory responses to acetylcholine were severely impaired during the first hour of reperfusion but gradually improved over a 90-minute period after ischemia. The vasoconstrictive response to U46619 was enhanced for the first 30 minutes of reperfusion and returned to normal within 60 minutes. In vitro vasomotor responses to potassium chloride, acetylcholine, bradykinin, and sodium nitroprusside were examined in isolated segments of canine coronary arteries preexposed in vivo to brief ischemia (10-30 minutes) and 20 minutes of reperfusion. The results showed enhanced contractile responses and blunted endothelium-dependent but not endothelium-independent vasodilatory responses of arterial rings subjected to 10 minutes of ischemia. Twenty and 30 minutes of ischemia completely impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation. When reperfusion was extended to 120 minutes after 15 minutes of ischemia, vasodilatory responses to acetylcholine had recovered by almost 90%. Examination of endothelial integrity by transmission electron microscopy after 10-15 minutes of ischemia revealed no evidence of structural damage. Twenty and 30 minutes of ischemia induced cytoplasmic vacuolation, partial detachment of endothelium, and swelling of cytoplasmic organelles. CONCLUSIONS: These data support the hypothesis that brief ischemia-reperfusion induces stunning of endothelium in which endothelium-dependent vasodilatory function is impaired temporarily without morphological damage.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1995

Balloon dilatation of porcine pulmonary arteries decreases endothelium-dependent relaxations and increases vasoconstriction to aggregating platelets.

BACKGROUND: Balloon dilatation of muscular coronary arteries disrupts endothelium and smooth muscle and allows platelet aggregation and adherence and cell proliferation, which can lead to restenosis. Balloon dilatation of the more distensible pulmonary artery is commonly performed, but the extent of damage to endothelium and its effect on the release of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO) and prostacyclin has not been studied. METHODS AND RESULTS: We dilated distal pulmonary arteries of intact ex vivo porcine lungs (n = 20; balloon-dilated [BD] group) using similar-sized adjacent vessels as controls with (E+group) and without (E- group) endothelium. Isolated rings were studied in vitro. Aggregating platelets caused constrictions of quiescent rings from the BD (27.4 +/- 8% of constriction to 80 mmol/L KCl) and E- groups (24 +/- 5%), which were inhibited by pyrilamine, a histamine blocker (11 +/- 4%; P < .05), and an intact endothelium (8 +/- 5%; P < .05). Constrictions to histamine and KCl were similar in the BD and E- groups. In rings with increased tone, platelets caused endothelium-dependent relaxations in the E+ group (70 +/- 6% relaxation), which were significantly (P < .05) inhibited in the BD group (20 +/- 7%), by L-nitro-arginine (EDNO blocker, 17 +/- 7%) and in the E- group (21 +/- 9%). Balloon dilatation markedly reduced endothelium-dependent relaxations to 5-hydroxytryptamine, thrombin, acetylcholine, and the calcium ionophore A23187, but relaxations to sodium nitroprusside were unaffected. CONCLUSIONS: Despite the distensibility of the pulmonary artery, balloon dilatation significantly damages the pulmonary endothelium, decreases EDNO production, impairs vasodilation, and favors platelet-induced vasoconstriction.

Animals↗
PubMed1997

Vitamin C improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in forearm resistance vessels of humans with hypercholesterolemia.

BACKGROUND: Endothelium-dependent vasodilation is impaired in humans with hypercholesterolemia. Oxidative degradation of endothelium-derived nitric oxide plays a major role in endothelial dysfunction in animal models of hypercholesterolemia. To assess whether this mechanism is relevant to humans, we studied the effect of vitamin C, an antioxidant, on vasodilator function in forearm resistance vessels of patients with hypercholesterolemia. METHODS AND RESULTS: We studied 11 hypercholesterolemic and 12 healthy control subjects. Forearm blood flow was determined by venous occlusion plethysmography. Endothelium-dependent vasodilation was assessed by intra-arterial infusion of methacholine (0.3 to 10 micrograms/min). Endothelium-independent vasodilation was measured by intra-arterial infusion of nitroprusside (0.3 to 10 micrograms/min) and verapamil (10 to 300 micrograms/min). Forearm blood flow dose-response curves were determined for each drug before and during coadministration of vitamin C (24 mg/min). In hypercholesterolemic subjects, endothelium-dependent vasodilation to methacholine was augmented by coinfusion of vitamin C (P = .001); in contrast, endothelium-independent vasodilation to nitroprusside and verapamil were not affected by coinfusion of vitamin C (P = .8 and P = .3, respectively). In control subjects, vitamin C administration did not alter endothelium-dependent vasodilation (P = .2). CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that vitamin C improves endothelium-dependent vasodilation in the forearm resistance vessels of patients with hypercholesterolemia. These findings suggest that nitric oxide degradation by oxygen-derived free radicals contributes to abnormal vascular reactivity in hypercholesterolemic humans.

Adult↗
PubMed1998

Development of endothelium-dependent relaxation in canine coronary collateral arteries.

BACKGROUND: Little information exists regarding development of vasomotor control mechanisms during coronary collateral artery maturation. Therefore, we studied endothelium-dependent relaxation of canine collateral arteries isolated 2, 4, and 9 months after placement of an ameroid occluder around the proximal left circumflex coronary artery. RESULTS: Collateral arteries isolated after 2 months exhibited markedly reduced endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to acetylcholine (ACh; 10(-10) to 10(-4) mol/L) and bradykinin (BK; 10(-11) to 10(-6) mol/L) compared with relaxation of noncollateral coronary arteries (P<0.01). In contrast, endothelium-independent relaxation of collateral arteries to nitroprusside was only slightly reduced compared with relaxation of noncollateral arteries (P<0.05). Endothelium-dependent relaxation of collateral arteries isolated after 4 and 9 months was increased significantly, to the extent that relaxation to ACh and BK was not significantly different between collateral and noncollateral arteries at these periods. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis with NT-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 100 micromol/L) markedly inhibited ACh-induced relaxation in all noncollateral arteries and in collateral arteries isolated after 9 months. However, neither L-NAME nor indomethacin (5 micromol/L) alone inhibited ACh-mediated relaxation of collateral arteries isolated after 4 months. ACh-induced relaxation of these collateral arteries was only inhibited when arteries were preconstricted with 30 mmol/L K+ and pretreated with L-NAME and indomethacin (ie, when synthesis/effects of nitric oxide, prostaglandins, and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor were inhibited). CONCLUSIONS: Development of endothelium-dependent relaxation in canine coronary collateral arteries is not complete after 2 months. After 4 months, endothelium-dependent relaxation of collateral arteries is similar to relaxation of noncollateral arteries, but the relaxation exhibits decreased dependence on synthesis of nitric oxide and increased involvement of prostaglandins and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor(s). After 9 months of development, collateral arteries exhibit normal nitric oxide-dependent relaxation, similar to noncollateral arteries.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1987

Impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations in rabbits subjected to aortic coarctation hypertension.

Rabbits were rendered hypertensive by suprarenal coarctation of the abdominal aorta. Seven days later, endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent vascular relaxations were examined in vascular rings taken from hypertensive (thoracic aorta, carotid artery) and normotensive (abdominal aorta) regions. Relaxation of phenylephrine-contracted rings in response to endothelium-dependent agonists (acetylcholine, A23187) was impaired, compared with that in sham-operated and intact controls, in regions exposed to the elevated blood pressure (i.e., above the coarctation). Responses to acetylcholine and A23187 in the abdominal aorta, below the coarctation, were not altered. The diminished endothelium-dependent responses in the thoracic aorta were not affected by pretreatment with the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin. In contrast to acetylcholine and A23187, responses to the endothelium-independent agonist nitroprusside were not attenuated in vessels from hypertensive regions, indicating that the defect occurred in the endothelium. The EC50 for acetylcholine-induced relaxations of thoracic aorta correlated significantly with mean arterial pressure above the coarctation, indicating that the extent to which endothelium-dependent relaxation is impaired is in proportion to the degree of blood pressure elevation. This study suggests that the diminished relaxations by endothelium-dependent agonists is a local response to the elevation of blood pressure and is not due to a circulating factor.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1993

Role of endothelium in endothelin-evoked contractions in the rat aorta.

We designed experiments to determine the role of endothelium-derived contracting factor or factors in the response to endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 in the aorta of normotensive and hypertensive rats. Rings of thoracic aortas, with and without endothelium, from normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats were suspended in organ chambers for recording of isometric tension in the presence of nitro-L-arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. The removal of endothelium decreased the contractions evoked by both endothelins in the aorta of spontaneously hypertensive but not of normotensive rats. Indomethacin (inhibitor of cyclooxygenase), dazoxiben (inhibitor of thromboxane synthase), and SQ-29,548 (antagonist of thromboxane A2 receptors) reduced, in aortic rings of spontaneously hypertensive rats, the contractions to endothelins in rings with but not in those without endothelium, whereas their effect was not endothelium-dependent in tissues of normotensive rats. BQ-123, a selective endothelin-A receptor antagonist, shifted the concentration-response curve to endothelin-1 to the right in a concentration-dependent manner and abolished the endothelium-dependent component of the contractions evoked by the peptide. The presence of the endothelium increased the basal and endothelin-stimulated release of thromboxane B2, the stable metabolite of thromboxane A2, in aortas of spontaneously hypertensive rats but not in those of normotensive rats. These data suggest that endothelium-derived thromboxane A2 contributes to contractions evoked by endothelin-1 and endothelin-3 in the aorta of the spontaneously hypertensive rat but not in that of the normotensive rat. Both the receptors on the endothelial cells (mediating the release of thromboxane A2) and those on vascular smooth muscle belong to the endothelin-A subtype.

Animals↗
PubMed1986

Oxygen-dependent tension in vascular smooth muscle. Does the endothelium play a role?

We investigated a hypothesis that an oxygen sensor involved in hypoxia-induced relaxation of vascular smooth muscle may reside in endothelial cells. We also determined the oxygen dependence of hypoxia-induced decreases in cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate concentrations in vascular smooth muscle rings. Rings of canine femoral artery, rabbit thoracic aorta, and lamb ductus arteriosus, either with an intact endothelium or with damaged or absent endothelium, were studied using organ baths that allowed changes in PO2 without a change in pH. Hypoxia-induced relaxations of rabbit thoracic aorta, lamb ductus arteriosus, and canine femoral artery were not dependent on an intact endothelium. The magnitude of hypoxia-induced relaxations was unchanged in rings of canine femoral artery without intact endothelium compared to rings with endothelium. Quasi-steady state organ bath PO2-mechanical tension relationships were unchanged in rings of canine femoral artery without endothelium over an organ PO2 range of 200-20 mm Hg. With rabbit thoracic aorta, magnitudes of hypoxia-induced relaxations were significantly smaller in rings without endothelium. Quasi-steady state plots, where mechanical tension was given as percentage of maximal relaxation, were similar in rings either with or without intact endothelium. Cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate concentrations were shown to be oxygen-sensitive, decreasing during hypoxia-induced relaxations with a threshold PO2 of 80-100 mm Hg with canine femoral artery, and 60-80 mm Hg with rabbit thoracic aorta rings, but this finding seems unrelated to the mechanism of hypoxia-induced relaxation.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Endothelium-dependent modulation of cGMP levels and intrinsic smooth muscle tone in isolated bovine intrapulmonary artery and vein.

The role of the endothelium in modulating cyclic nucleotide levels and intrinsic smooth muscle tone was studied in isolated rings of bovine intrapulmonary artery and vein. Cyclic 3',5'-guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) levels were threefold to fourfold higher in unrubbed artery and vein than in vessels that had been denuded of endothelium. Cyclic 3',5'-adenosine monophosphate (cAMP) levels were twofold higher in unrubbed than in endothelium-denuded artery, but no differences were observed in veins. Methylene blue, an inhibitor of guanylate cyclase, decreased cGMP but not cAMP levels, and this was accompanied by increases in smooth muscle tone. M&B 22,948, an inhibitor of cGMP-phosphodiesterase, increased cGMP but not cAMP levels, and this was accompanied by decreases in smooth muscle tone. Unrubbed vessels were more sensitive than endothelium-denuded vessels to the actions of both methylene blue and M&B 22,948, and this may be attributed to endothelium-dependent increases in cGMP turnover. Moreover, unrubbed vessels were more sensitive than endothelium-denuded vessels to contractile responses to phenylephrine and potassium, and these responses were potentiated by methylene blue and attenuated by M&B 22,948. Although indomethacin lowered cAMP levels in unrubbed artery, no changes in tone or contractile responsiveness were observed. A consistent observation was that the smaller branches of unrubbed but not endothelium-denuded intrapulmonary artery and vein had higher levels of cGMP but not cAMP, were sensitive to endothelium-dependent vasodilators, were more sensitive to methylene blue, and would not maintain a steady level of submaximal tone to phenylephrine when compared with larger branches from a common vascular bed.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗