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At least 721 records · Page 40Linked to original sources
PubMed1993

Granulocyte-macrophage-colony-stimulating factor differentially regulates neutrophil migration across IL-1-activated and nonactivated human endothelium.

The directed migration of neutrophils across vascular endothelium to localize in inflammatory tissues is controlled by soluble mediators, including cytokines and growth factors. Granulocyte-macrophage CSF (GM-CSF) enhances and primes neutrophil functions, but its specific role in the movement and localization of neutrophils to infective sites has not been clarified. We demonstrate, using an in vitro model of the vascular endothelial barrier, that GM-CSF enhances neutrophil migration across unstimulated endothelium, increasing the percentage of migrating cells from 7.7 +/- 0.9% (mean +/- SE) in controls to 12.5 +/- 1.5% in the presence of GM-CSF (100 ng/ml) (n = 14, p < 0.0005). This effect is dose dependent, with maximal effects achieved at concentrations of 10 ng/ml or greater, and is independent of concentration gradients of GM-CSF. Transendothelial migration of neutrophils can also be increased by cytokine treatment of the endothelial cells. Preincubation of endothelial monolayers with IL-1 (10 U/ml) for 4 h increases the percentage of migrating cells to 16.8 +/- 1.4% (238 +/- 25% of base line, n = 7, p < 0.005). In the presence of GM-CSF, however, neutrophil migration across IL-1 treated endothelium (12.5 +/- 1.6%, n = 7) is no different from that across resting endothelium (11.6 +/- 1.6% in the same seven experiments). Hence GM-CSF acts to inhibit neutrophil migration across IL-1-activated endothelium, and almost completely abolishes IL-1-induced migration (n = 7, p < 0.0005). This differential effect of GM-CSF on neutrophil migration, depending upon the conditions of endothelial activation, does not relate to an effect on adhesion, because GM-CSF has no effect on the increased adhesion of neutrophils to IL-1-treated endothelium. The effect of GM-CSF on neutrophil migration across activated endothelium may be relevant to the clinical administration of human rGM-CSF.

Antibodies, Monoclonal↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Comparison of the effect of endothelium on the responses to sumatriptan in rabbit isolated iliac, mesenteric and carotid arteries.

The contractions induced by the 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-HT1-like receptor agonist sumatriptan in open ring segments of rabbit iliac, mesenteric and common carotid arteries were studied isometrically in vitro. The alteration of the responses by removal of the endothelium and by inhibitors of nitric oxide synthase and cyclooxygenase was investigated. 5-HT induced concentration-dependent contractions of all these three arterial segments. Sumatriptan did not induce any contraction of quiescent mesenteric and iliac arteries, but when a moderate tone was given with a threshold concentration of prostaglandin F2 alpha, it elicited contractions of both arteries (Emax values for sumatriptan in mesenteric and iliac arteries were 84.7% and 29.7% of the phenylephrine maximal effect and EC50 values were 0.22 +/- 0.14 and 0.33 +/- 0.06 microM, respectively). Sumatriptan had no contractile effect at all in carotid arteries in which 5-HT-induced contractions seemed to be mediated by 5-HT2 receptors only. Removal of the endothelium did not affect the responses to 5-HT in iliac, mesenteric and carotid arteries. The contractions induced by sumatriptan were not influenced by removal of the endothelium in the mesenteric artery, while sumatriptan responses were potentiated in the endothelium-denuded preparations of the iliac artery (Emax = 50.8% of the phenylphrine maximal effect; EC50 = 0.46 microM). L-NG-monomethyl arginine (100 microM), a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, also potentiated the sumatriptan responses in the endothelium-intact segments of the iliac artery. Indomethacin (0.1 microM), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, did not affect the sumatriptan responses. These results suggest that sumatriptan-induced contractions of the rabbit iliac, but not mesenteric artery, were depressed by itself through the release of nitric oxide upon stimulation of 5-HT1-like receptors located on the endothelium, whereas neither on vascular smooth muscle nor on endothelium, 5-HT1-like receptors were present in the rabbit carotid artery.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Binding and functional characterization of alpha-2 adrenergic receptor subtypes on pig vascular endothelium.

Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor subtypes were characterized in membranes of pig vascular endothelium using [3H]rauwolscine. Alpha-2 adrenergic receptor subtypes that mediate endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation were studied in vitro by using ring segments of pig epicardial coronary arteries. Specific [3H]rauwolscine binding in endothelial membranes was saturable and to a single class of high-affinity sites with a mean KD of 0.217 +/- 0.05 nM and Bmax of 156 +/- 28 fmol/mg of protein. Nonlinear regression analysis indicated that competition binding curves for drugs that distinguish the alpha-2A adrenergic receptor subtype from the alpha-2C adrenergic receptor subtype fit best to two-site binding models. Kl values for drugs in binding to endothelial alpha-2 adrenergic receptors correlated well with their Kl values for alpha-2A (r = .98) and alpha-2C (r = .97) adrenergic receptor subtypes identified in other tissues. Vascular endothelium contained 23% alpha-2A and 77% alpha-2C adrenergic receptors. In the presence of indomethacin, the rank order of potency for agonists that cause endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation was p-iodoclonidine > clonidine > UK-14,304 > guanabenz > epinephrine > norepinephrine. KB values for antagonist inhibition of epinephrine-induced, endothelium-dependent vascular relaxation correlated best with Kl values for antagonist binding at the alpha-2A adrenergic receptor subtype. These results suggest that the alpha-2A and alpha-2C adrenergic receptor subtypes are present on pig vascular endothelium and that the alpha-2A adrenergic receptor subtype mediates indomethacin-insensitive, endothelium-dependent relaxation of pig epicardial coronary arteries.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗
PubMed1994

Strain-specific variation in constitutive and inducible expression of MHC class II, class I and ICAM-1 on rat cerebral endothelium.

Strain variation in levels of inducible major histocompatibility complex (MHC) class II expression by rat cerebral endothelium has previously been reported. Using primary cell cultures of rat cerebral endothelium from PVG (RT1c), LEW (RT1l), PVG.LEW (RT1l) and PVG.AGUS (RT1lv?) strains it was determined that variation in levels of inducible MHC class II expression between strains can be accounted for by both cis-acting elements within the MHC region and by trans-acting elements outside the MHC. In addition it was determined that levels of constitutive MHC class I expression varied between PVG (RT1c) and LEW (RT1l) strains which can be attributed to cis-acting elements within the MHC region. Furthermore, while levels of constitutive class I expression vary between PVG (RT1c) and LEW (RT1l) endothelium we could find no difference in the interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma) inducible expression of class I between these two strains. In contrast the inducibility of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in response to IFN-gamma was found to differ between PVG and LEW endothelium. Significant levels of ICAM-1 are induced on LEW cerebral endothelium after 24 hr exposure to 50 U/ml IFN-gamma. However, no significant induction of ICAM-1 could be demonstrated on PVG, or BN cerebral endothelium after the same exposure to IFN-gamma. Induction of ICAM-1 by IFN-gamma precedes MHC class II by at least 24 hr and its persistence is proportional to the concentration of IFN-gamma used. We suggest that the rat MHC region (RT1) contains elements which control the levels of constitutive class I expression and inducible class II expression in response to IFN-gamma, but that other non-RT1 genes influence the inducibility of MHC class II on rat cerebral endothelial cells. This observation, together with the finding that ICAM-1 expression is not significantly increased in response to IFN-gamma on PVG or BN endothelium, suggests that IFN-gamma responsiveness by these strains differs from LEW.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

Endothelium dysfunction in cardiovascular diseases.

During the past 10 years, it has become obvious that endothelium regulates vasomotion, modulates hemostasis, influences vascular permeability, and controls blood vessel growth. The role of endothelium in modulating vasomotor tone is mediated by the releasing of a number of potent vasoactive compounds, including endothelium-derived relaxing factors (one of which is either nitric oxide or a compound that releases nitric oxide), vasoactive prostaglandins, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor, and a number of constricting factors (such as thromboxane A2, endothelin, superoxide anion, L-arginine-dependent products etc.). This role of the endothelium is dramatically changed by several disease processes, including diabetes mellitus, cerebrovascular disease, and so on. Abnormalities of endothelial regulation of vascular tone may contribute to a number of clinical syndromes, including atherosclerosis, hypertension, septic shock syndrome, and many others. Endothelium dysfunction, characterized by altered synthesis or release of these relaxing factors along with maintained or facilitated synthesis or release of contracting factors, can lead to various pathological conditions such as thrombosis, vasospasm, and hypertension. Better understanding of the exact nature of endothelial dysfunction, including the role played by endothelium-derived vasoactive factors, may provide a basis for novel therapies in these vasculopathies.

Cardiovascular Diseases↗
PubMed1994

Prostaglandin H2 as an endothelium-derived contracting factor modulates endothelin-1-induced contraction.

OBJECTIVE: To investigate the possible involvement of prostaglandin H2, an endothelium-derived contracting factor in the rat aorta, in the development of the contraction induced by endothelin-1. METHODS: The aortic rings from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) were prepared, and the changes of isometric tension of these rings developed by endothelin-1 were recorded with or without the treatment of several inhibitors or an antagonist. The concentrations of prostaglandins and thromboxane B2 in the bath solution with the rings contracted by endothelin-1 were measured by radioimmunoassay. The effects of a thromboxane A2/prostaglandin H2 receptor antagonist (ONO-3708) on endothelin-1-induced contraction were compared in SHR and Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. RESULTS: Indomethacin (10(-5) mol/l) and ONO-3708 (10(-6) mol/l) significantly diminished endothelin-1 (3 x 10(-8) mol/l)-induced contractions in the aortic rings from SHR with but not without endothelium. The thromboxane A2 synthetase inhibitors OKY-046 (10(-5) mol/l) and RS-5186 (10(-5) mol/l) did not attenuate the contractions either with or without endothelium. Endothelin-1 significantly increased the release of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha, which is the metabolite of prostaglandin I2 and its precursor prostaglandin H2, from rings with endothelium of SHR, but the concentration of thromboxane B2 from aortic rings was unchanged. In the rings without endothelium the endothelin-1-induced release of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha was also observed. The half-maximal effective concentration of endothelin-1 for rings from SHR was shifted to the right by ONO-3708, but that of WKY rats was not changed, and significantly greater amounts of 6-keto-prostaglandin F1 alpha were released in the rings from SHR than in those from WKY rats by endothelin-1. CONCLUSIONS: Endothelin-1 induced the release of prostaglandin H2 from endothelial cells in the rat aorta, the effect being greater in the hypertensive state. The released prostaglandin H2, an endothelium-derived contracting factor, modulated the vasoconstriction that is induced by endothelin-1, another endothelium-derived contracting factor, in addition to the direct vasoconstrictive action of endothelin-1 on vascular smooth muscle.

6-Ketoprostaglandin F1 alpha↗
PubMed1993

Endothelium-derived relaxing factors.

The endothelium modulates vascular tone by liberating both dilator [endothelium-derived relaxing factors; EDRFs]and constrictor substances [endothelium-derived contracting factors; EDCFs]. This review focused on endothelium-derived relaxing factor, its discovery, characteristics, synthesis and interaction with vascular smooth muscle. The major endothelium-derived relaxing factor is nitric oxide formed from L-arginine, which activates guanylate cyclase in the smooth muscle, leading to accumulation of cyclic-GMP. Endothelial cells can also release endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor EDHF which also cause endothelium-dependent relaxation.

Animals↗
PubMed1994

[Inhibitory effect of fentanyl citrate on endothelium-dependent relaxation in rat aorta].

We studied the effect of fentanyl on the endothelium-dependent vascular responses in isolated rat aortic strips. Fentanyl depressed the endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by acetylcholine but not that induced by the calcium ionophore, A23187. Endothelium-independent relaxation in response to sodium nitroprusside (SNP), a soluble guanylate cyclase activator, was not depressed by fentanyl. On the other hand, fentanyl depressed the increase in cyclic GMP level stimulated by acetylcholine but not that stimulated by A23187 or SNP. Furthermore, fentanyl depressed the vasocontraction by acetylcholine but not that by histamine or KCl in isolated pig coronary artery strips without endothelium, suggesting that fentanyl can inhibit endothelium-independent contraction via muscarinic receptor on smooth muscle cells. These results suggest that fentanyl can inhibit endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation via endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) by acting on endothelial cells but not on smooth muscle cells. The inhibitory effect of fentanyl on the relaxation probably occurs at the level of muscarinic receptor on endothelial cells or at a site before biochemical pathways converting L-arginine to EDRF.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1993

Chemotactic desensitization of neutrophils demonstrates interleukin-8 (IL-8)-dependent and IL-8-independent mechanisms of transmigration through cytokine-activated endothelium.

We have recently shown that an exogenous gradient of interleukin-8 (IL-8) induces the transendothelial migration of neutrophils. Treatment of endothelium with the cytokines IL-1 or tumour necrosis factor (TNF) also causes neutrophil transmigration, and recent evidence suggests that this may be due to endogenous IL-8 produced by the endothelium. We have used specific chemotactic desensitization of neutrophils to investigate the role of IL-8 in transmigration through cytokine-activated endothelium. Preincubation of neutrophils with IL-8 reduced their chemotactic transmigration response to an IL-8 gradient by 81%, demonstrating desensitization. Transmigration in response to cytokine-activated endothelium was inhibited by 104% after IL-8 preincubation, thus tending to support the role of IL-8. However, preincubation with another neutrophil chemotactic factor N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine (FMLP), which did not affect the IL-8, response, also inhibited transmigration, by 74%. This suggests that FMLP preincubation acts to inhibit a non-IL-8-dependent mechanism of transmigration through cytokine-activated endothelium. Chemotactic factor pretreatment of neutrophils did not reduce their adhesion to activated endothelium, but specifically blocked the transmigration step. We have therefore shown that chemotactic transmigration can be subjected to factor-specific desensitization, and have used this to provide evidence supporting a role for IL-8 in transmigration through cytokine-activated endothelium, as well as suggesting a further IL-8-independent mechanism. These data also provide a mechanism for the observed defect in accumulation of neutrophils at inflammatory sites when chemotactic factors are infused intravenously.

Cells, Cultured↗
PubMed1997

Endothelium-dependent vasodilatation and distensibility of large arteries in chronic haemodialysis patients.

BACKGROUND: Cardiovascular mortality is increased in chronic haemodialysis (HD) patients and is not completely explained by common cardiovascular risk factors. Hyperhomocysteinaemia and chronic HD per se may play a role, because these factors may adversely affect endothelial function and distensibility of conduit arteries, which are important determinants of the risk of atherosclerosis, thrombosis and cardiac hypertrophy. METHODS: A vessel wall movement detector system was used to investigate endothelium-dependent, flow-mediated and endothelium-independent, glyceryl trinitrate-induced vasodilatation in the brachial artery and compliance and distensibility coefficients (CC and DC) in the common carotid artery in 28 chronic HD patients and 28 control subjects. RESULTS: Endothelium-dependent, but not endothelium-independent, vasodilatation was markedly reduced in the HD group (3.7 +/- 1.1 vs. 9.7 +/- 1.2%; P = 0.001). The DC was reduced only in a subgroup of patients aged < 50 years: 16.9 +/- 1.5 vs. 22.4 +/- 2.0 10(-3)/kPa (P = 0.032) and was not related to endothelium-dependent vasodilatation. CC did not differ between the groups. Plasma total homocysteine was elevated in the HD patients, but was neither related to endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, nor to DC. CONCLUSION: Chronic renal failure and (or) chronic haemodialysis are associated with impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilatation, which may reflect an increased susceptibility for the development of atherosclerosis and thrombosis.

Adult↗
PubMed1997

Difference in the endothelium mediated effects of A23187 on thoracic aorta between neonatal and adult guinea pigs.

Developmental changes in the functional properties of thoracic aorta were examined in neonatal and adult guinea-pigs. Norepinephrine-induced contractions of the neonatal aortic rings were markedly enhanced by removal of the endothelium, whereas those of the adult rings were only slightly enhanced. Carbachol induced endothelium-dependent relaxation to a similar extent in both neonatal and adult aortic rings precontracted with 30 microM norepinephrine. A23187 induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in the adult aortic rings precontracted with 30 microM norepinephrine, whereas it failed to induce the relaxation in the neonatal aortic ring. Sodium nitropurusside induced endothelium-independent relaxation to a similar extent in both neonatal and adult aortic rings precontracted with 30 microM norepinephrine. The endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by carbachol and by A23187 were inhibited either by NG-nitro-L-arginine or by methylene blue, but not by indomethacin, indicating that both the relaxations were mediated by nitric oxide, but not by prostacyclin. These results suggest that, although the neonatal endothelium of the guinea-pig aorta is capable of releasing nitric oxide, the mechanisms underlying the synthesis and/or release of nitric oxide may be different between the neonatal and adult endothelium.

Animals↗
PubMedDate not supplied

Vasoconstrictions mediated by an endothelium-derived vasoconstricting factor (EDCF).

To enlighten the role of endothelium in the generation of vasospasms we examined vascular tone after reduction of oxygen supply in dependence on endothelial function in isolated vessels (rabbit aorta abdominalis, pig coronary, and pulmonary artery). Therefore, after ligation of all side branches, vessel segments, prepared either with or without endothelium, were cannulated and arranged in two systems (with two segments each) in a serial manner (system I: endothelium-denuded vessel followed by an endothelium-denuded segment) and perfused with Tyrode's solution (constant flow 20 ml/min). Pressure gradient over each segment was continuously measured. Endothelial function was checked by perfusion with 1 mumol/l actetylholine after precontraction with 0.1 mumol/l norepinephrine, thereby inducing an EDRF mediated vasodilation (greater than 70%) indicating normal endothelial function. After 2 h equilibration with Tyrode's solution the preparations of rabbit aorta abdominalis were perfused for 30 min with oxygen-deprived medium (reduction from 95% O2 and 5% CO2 to 95% N2 and 5% CO2) and a marked long lasting (60 min) increase in pressure gradient (indicating vasoconstriction) was observed in those endothelium-denuded vessel segments which were mounted distal to a normal vessel with an intact endothelium. This contraction could be inhibited by pretreatment with either 1 mumol/l dexamethasone. 1 mumol/l indomethacine or 10 mumol/l methylene blue or attenuated by the TXA2-antagonist BM 17133 (5 mumol/l) but not by radical scavengers as superoxid dismutase or by inhibition of the lipoxygenase by nordihydroguaretic acid. From these results it is concluded that endothelium releases a vasoconstricting factor (EDCF) at pO2 values beneath 550 mm Hg. This EDCF seems to depend on phospholipase A2 and cyclooxygenase, but because of the long-lasting effect it is probably no prostanoid itself, especially not TXA2.

Animals↗
PubMed1992

Isoflurane does not vasodilate rat thoracic aortic rings by endothelium-derived relaxing factor or other cyclic GMP-mediated mechanisms.

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) is a potent endogenous vasodilator that has been indirectly suggested to play a role in isoflurane-mediated vasodilation. To examine directly the possible role of EDRF in isoflurane-mediated vasodilation, isolated rat thoracic aortic rings were suspended for isometric tension measurements, equilibrated to a resting tension of 2 g, and constricted with a 50% maximal concentration (EC50) dose of phenylephrine or KCl. Three groups of rings were studied: endothelium-intact, endothelium-denuded, and endothelium-intact rings treated with nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), a specific inhibitor of EDRF synthase. Isoflurane was then added at 1, 2, and 3% in a cumulative manner, allowing 10 min for each concentration to equilibrate. Indomethacin was present in all experiments to prevent the formation of vasoactive prostanoid metabolites. Since EDRF causes vascular relaxation by stimulating soluble guanylyl cyclase and increasing cyclic GMP, the effect of isoflurane on vascular ring cyclic GMP content was determined as an additional indicator of EDRF-mediated dilation. Rings with intact and denuded endothelium were isolated as described above, constricted with phenylephrine, and challenged with methacholine (positive control) or 1, 2, or 3% isoflurane. After 8 min exposure, the rings were flash-frozen in dry-ice-cooled acetone and homogenized in 1 N HCl for subsequent analysis of cyclic GMP content by radioimmunoassay. Isoflurane caused dose-dependent vasodilation of both KCl- and phenylephrine-constricted rings. In the phenylephrine group, at 2% and 3% isoflurane, endothelium-denuded and L-NAME-treated rings relaxed to a greater extent than endothelium-intact rings (P less than 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Animals↗
PubMed2000

Comparison of endothelium-dependent relaxation in carotid arteries from Japanese white and Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic rabbits.

Modifications by atherosclerosis of endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations were evaluated in carotid arteries isolated from Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL; age 20-29 months) and age-matched Japanese white (JW) rabbits. Marked, patchy atherosclerotic lesions were observed in all WHHL rabbit arteries. Endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by acetylcholine, partly depressed by N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA), were significantly inhibited in the WHHL rabbit arteries with atherosclerosis, compared with those in the arteries without atherosclerotic lesions from JW and WHHL rabbits. No difference was observed in the relaxation caused by superoxide dismutase in these arteries. Conversely, endothelium-dependent relaxations by substance P were greater in the arteries with and without atherosclerosis from WHHL rabbits than in the arteries from JW rabbits. Endothelium-independent relaxations elicited by sodium nitroprusside and 2,2-(hydroxynitrosohydrazino)bis-ethanamine (NOC18) did not differ in the arteries from JW and WHHL rabbits. The responses to acetylcholine and substance P of JW rabbit arteries with the endothelium were not attenuated by treatment with pertussis toxin. L-NA-resistant, endothelium-dependent relaxations by substance P were almost abolished by charybdotoxin, and atherosclerosis did not alter the response. It is concluded that endothelial functions, evaluated by substance P, in rabbit carotid arteries are not impaired by atherosclerosis and by long exposure to hyperlipidemia in vivo. Dysfunction of muscarinic receptors may be involved in the depressed response to acetylcholine. As far as the arteries used in the present study are concerned, responses mediated possibly by endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) are unlikely to be modulated by atherosclerosis.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1987

Effects of arachidonate deficiency on endothelium-dependent vascular reactions.

1. The release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), which appears to be impaired in vessels chronically exposed to hypertension, may involve mobilization of arachidonate from phospholipids. In this study the effects of arachidonate deficiency on endothelium-dependent responses were examined in rat isolated aorta. 2. Weanling rats were fed an essential fatty acid-deficient (EFAD) diet for 8 weeks which reduced plasma and aortic phospholipid arachidonate content from 17 to 1.8% and from 21 to 8%, respectively. After this time the rats were killed and the reactivity of aortic rings was studied in organ baths. 3. In aortic rings from control rats the concentration-response curves for the contractile action of phenylephrine were shifted to the left 3.5-fold by removal of the endothelium, and the maximum was not altered. 4. In contrast, in EFAD rings with endothelium, the maximal vasoconstriction to phenylephrine was less than in control rings, and removal of the endothelium increased the maximum (from 1.9 +/- 0.2 to 3.2 +/- 0.1 g, P less than 0.05) and reduced the EC50 7-fold. 5. In EFAD rings precontracted with phenylephrine (0.3 mumol/l) the relaxations produced by the endothelium-dependent dilator acetylcholine were not significantly different from those produced in control rings. The dilator actions of sodium nitroprusside were also similar in EFAD and control rings. 6. Thus, endothelium-dependent dilatation in the aorta is not impaired by partial depletion of phospholipid arachidonate. However, contractile responses to alpha-adrenoceptor agonists are depressed by spontaneously released EDRF in rat aorta, so that the results suggest that depletion of phospholipid arachidonate either augments spontaneous release of EDRF, or impairs EDRF inactivating mechanisms.

Animals↗
PubMed1987

Selective inhibition by gossypol of endothelium-dependent relaxations augments relaxations to glyceryl trinitrate in rabbit coeliac artery.

1 Acetylcholine, substance P, prostaglandin E1 and the nitrovasodilator glyceryl trinitrate induced concentration-dependent relaxations of endothelium-intact strips of rabbit coeliac artery precontracted with noradrenaline. 2 Endothelium-denuded strip preparations contracted to acetylcholine and showed no response to substance P. The relaxant response to prostaglandin E1 was unimpaired after removal of endothelium, whereas the response to glyceryl trinitrate was increased. 3 A 20 min exposure of endothelium-intact strips to gossypol, an irreversible inhibitor of the production and/or release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, abolished vasodilatation in response to the endothelium-dependent agents acetylcholine and substance P, did not change relaxations to prostaglandin E1, but significantly enhanced relaxations in response to glyceryl trinitrate. 4 In view of the assumed common mechanism of action of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and nitrovasodilators, these results suggest an interference of the two active principles at the level of the vascular smooth muscle cell.

Acetylcholine↗
PubMed1983

5-Hydroxytryptamine can mediate endothelium-dependent relaxation of coronary arteries.

5-Hydroxytryptamine caused contractions of isolated canine coronary artery rings. These contractions were larger in the absence of the endothelium, whereas those caused by phenylephrine, potassium chloride, and prostaglandin F2 alpha were not. When coronary arteries were contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha, 5-hydroxytryptamine caused relaxation in some rings with endothelium but only further contraction in all rings without endothelium. The inhibitory action of 5-hydroxytryptamine mediated by the endothelium was unaffected by blockade of monoamine oxidase or cyclooxygenase. In rings with endothelium, aggregating platelets, which released 5-hydroxytryptamine and thromboxane A2, caused relaxation. The relaxations caused by 5-hydroxytryptamine and aggregating platelets were antagonized by methysergide but not by ketanserin. These observations suggest that the response to 5-hydroxytryptamine is the net result of a direct contractile action on coronary smooth muscle and an inhibitory action mediated by the endothelium. In some vessels the endothelium-dependent inhibitory responses to aggregating platelets may be mediated in part by released 5-hydroxytryptamine. The serotonergic receptors on endothelial cells may be of a different subtype than those mediating contractions of the smooth muscle cells.

Animals↗
PubMed1993

Endothelium-dependent relaxation and the acute pulmonary vascular response to alveolar hyperoxia in neonatal pigs.

To determine whether hyperoxia increases the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, we studied the effect of oxygen on pulmonary vascular ring tension and regional lung perfusion. In vitro, hyperoxia stimulated endothelium-independent constriction of neonatal porcine pulmonary arterial rings. In vessels with intact endothelium, hyperoxia stimulated a concomitant increase in the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. In sedated neonatal pigs, colored microspheres were used to evaluate relative lung perfusion when two lung regions were independently ventilated with room air, and subsequently, when one lung region was ventilated with 100% oxygen. The proportion of flow to the hyperoxic lung region was not significantly increased until the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor was inhibited by NG-monomethyl-L-arginine or NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester. Thus, hyperoxia stimulated opposing effects on the tension of isolated vascular rings. One mechanism of oxygen-mediated relaxation results from an increase in the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. However, in vivo, alveolar hyperoxia may stimulate an acute pulmonary vasodilatory response which is not mediated by endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

Analysis of Variance↗