Vasoinhibitory effect of NP-252, a new dihydropyridine derivative, in canine cerebral artery

The vasoinhibitory effect of NP-252, a 1,4-dihydropyridine derivative Ca++ antagonist, was examined in canine cerebral artery, and this effect was compared with that of nifedipine. NP-252 (10(-7)M) and nifedipine (10(-6) M) nearly abolished the contraction induced by addition of Ca++ to Ca(++)-free medium containing KC1. NP-252 (10(-6)M) and nifedipine (10(-6)M) attenuated the contraction produced by thromboxane A2 agonist (STA2) in normal medium, and the resultant contractions were 22% (n = 6) and 35% (n = 6) of the control contraction, respectively. The vasoinhibitory effects of NP-252 were significantly stronger than those of nifedipine in canine cerebral artery. NP-252 (10(-7) and 10(-6) M) dose-dependently attenuated nifedipine-resistant Ca(++)-contraction in the presence of STA2 in both canine cerebral and coronary arteries. The inhibitory effect of combined treatment with NP-252 (10(-6) M) and nitroglycerin (10(-6) M) on nifedipine-resistant Ca(++)-contraction in the cerebral artery was additive. These results indicate that NP-252 possesses a stronger vasoinhibitory effect than that of nifedipine in canine cerebral artery.     

Effects of the thromboxane receptor antagonist SK&F 88046 in the canine, monkey and human coronary vasculature

U-46619, a stable "functional" thromboxane/endoperoxide receptor agonist, produced potent contractile responses in isolated canine, rhesus monkey and human left circumflex coronary arteries (EC50 = 9.11 x 10(-9)M, 1.98 x 10(-8)M and 3.50 x 10(-9)M, respectively). Canine intrapulmonary veins were also contracted potently by U-46619 (EC50 = 1.22 x 10(-9)M). SK&F 88046, a thromboxane A2 (TxA2) end-organ receptor antagonist, blocked the vasoconstrictor effects of U-46619 in the canine circumflex artery (KB = 1.33 x 10(-8)M), canine intrapulmonary vein (KB = 1.46 x 10(-9)M), monkey circumflex artery (KB = 8.47 x 10(-8)M), and human circumflex artery (KB = 8.49 x 10(-7)M). SK&F 88046 was 10-60 times more potent in the canine and rhesus monkey coronary vasculature than in the human coronary preparations. Intracoronary administration of U-46619 to anesthetized, open chest dogs produced a dose-related decrease in left circumflex coronary artery blood flow which resulted in decreases in left ventricular developed pressure, left ventricular positive and negative dP/dt, ascending aortic blood flow, and an increase in left ventricular end-diastolic pressure. The decrease in coronary blood flow and the hemodynamic changes were either attenuated or completely inhibited by i.v. administration of SK&F 88046 (2.5 mg/kg + 0.05 mg/kg/min or 5.0 mg/kg + 0.1 mg/kg/min). SK&F 88046 was compared to two other TxA2 receptor antagonists in canine isolated intrapulmonary veins. SQ 29,548 was approximately 2-times more potent than SK&F 88046 as an antagonist of U-44619 mediated contractions (KB = 7.0 x 10(-10)M). In contrast, BM 13.177 was 150-fold less potent (KB = 2.19 x 10(-7)M) than SK&F 88046. Thus, the present study demonstrates species variability in response to TxA2 agonists and antagonists and reconfirms the relative importance of species selection in studying these agents.     

Inhibition of leukotriene actions by the calcium channel blocker, nisoldipine

Nisoldipine, a calcium channel blocker having a highly potent effect on vascular smooth muscle relative to cardiac muscle, was tested to determine its anti-leukotriene properties. Nisoldipine, at concentrations from 1 to 300 ng/ml, significantly attenuated the vasoconstrictor effects of both LTC4 and LTD4 in isolated perfused cat coronary arteries and in isolated Langendorff perfused cat hearts. In isolated perfused coronary arteries, nisoldipine exerted a greater percentage inhibition of LTC4- and LTD4-induced constriction than of the constriction induced by the thromboxane analog, carbocyclic thromboxane A2 (CTA2). In isolated cat lung fragments, higher concentrations of nisoldipine were required to inhibit leukotriene formation (i.e., 10-200 microM). These concentrations of nisoldipine markedly inhibited the formation of the chemotactic leukotriene (LTB4) as well as the peptide leukotrienes (LTC4 and LTD4) stimulated by A-23187. Both types of leukotrienes were inhibited to a comparable degree. Thus, nisoldipine has significant anti-leukotriene actions. At normally employed concentrations, nisoldipine inhibits leukotriene actions on vascular smooth muscle, and at higher concentrations, it inhibits leukotriene formation.     

Melatonin potentiates contractile responses to serotonin in isolated porcine coronary arteries

The present study was designed to determine the effects of melatonin on coronary vasomotor tone. Porcine coronary arteries were suspended in organ chambers for isometric tension recording. Melatonin (10(-10)-10(-5) M) itself caused neither contraction nor relaxation of the tissues. Serotonin (10(-9)-10(-5) M) caused concentration-dependent contractions of coronary arteries, and in the presence of melatonin (10(-7) M) the maximal response to serotonin was increased in rings with but not without endothelium. In contrast, melatonin had no effect on contractions produced by the thromboxane A(2) analog U-46619 (10(-10)-10(-7) M). The melatonin-receptor antagonist S-20928 (10(-6) M) abolished the potentiating effect of melatonin on serotonin-induced contractions in endothelium-intact coronary arteries, as did treatment with 1H-[1, 2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (10(-5) M), methylene blue (10(-5) M), or N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (3 x 10(-5) M). In tissues contracted with U-46619, serotonin caused endothelium-dependent relaxations that were inhibited by melatonin (10(-7) M). Melatonin also inhibited coronary artery relaxation induced by sodium nitroprusside (10(-9)-10(-5) M) but not by isoproterenol (10(-9)-10(-5) M). These results support the hypothesis that melatonin, by inhibiting the action of nitric oxide on coronary vascular smooth muscle, selectively potentiates the vasoconstrictor response to serotonin in coronary arteries with endothelium.     

Bradykinin suppresses endothelin-induced contraction of coronary artery through its B2-receptor on the endothelium.

Bradykinin (BK), a powerful vasodilating peptide, has been known to be one of the factors regulating vascular contractility mainly through its action on the endothelium. The effects of BK on vascular contraction induced by endothelin-1 (ET-1), a potent vasoconstrictor peptide produced in endothelium, were investigated in vitro using the canine coronary ringed artery. ET-1 at concentrations of 10(-10) to 10(-7) M induced strong and persistent contraction dose-dependently. The ET-1-induced contraction was inhibited by BK at concentrations of 10(-7) and 10(-6) M only in the presence of endothelium. A B1-receptor agonist (des-Arg9-BK) and a B1-receptor antagonist (des-Arg9-[Leu8]-BK) did not affect these effects of BK, whereas a B2-receptor antagonist ([D-Arg0,Hyp3,Thi5,8,D-Phe7]-BK) inhibited the effect of BK on the ET-1-induced contraction. These results indicate that BK may be a potent counter-factor for the ET-1-induced coronary vasoconstriction through its B2-receptors on the endothelium.     

Metabolism of adrenic acid to vasodilatory 1alpha,1beta-dihomo-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids by bovine coronary arteries

Adrenic acid (docosatetraenoic acid), an abundant fatty acid in the vasculature, is produced by a two-carbon chain elongation of arachidonic acid. Despite its abundance and similarity to arachidonic acid, little is known about its role in the regulation of vascular tone. Gas chromatography/mass spectrometric analysis of bovine coronary artery and endothelial cell lysates revealed arachidonic acid concentrations of 2.06 +/- 0.01 and 6.18 +/- 0.60 microg/mg protein and adrenic acid concentrations of 0.29 +/- 0.01 and 1.56 +/- 0.16 microg/mg protein, respectively. In bovine coronary arterial rings preconstricted with the thromboxane mimetic U-46619, adrenic acid (10(-9)-10(-5) M) induced concentration-related relaxations (maximal relaxation = 83 +/- 4%) that were similar to arachidonic acid relaxations. Adrenic acid relaxations were blocked by endothelium removal and the K(+) channel inhibitor, iberiotoxin (100 nM), and inhibited by the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10 microM, maximal relaxation = 53 +/- 4%), and the cytochrome P-450 inhibitor, miconazole (10 microM, maximal relaxation = 52 +/- 5%). Reverse-phase HPLC and liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry isolated and identified numerous adrenic acid metabolites from coronary arteries including dihomo (DH)-epoxyeicosatrienoic acids (EETs) and DH-prostaglandins. DH-EET [16,17-, 13,14-, 10,11-, and 7,8- (10(-9)-10(-5) M)] induced similar concentration-related relaxations (maximal relaxations averaged 83 +/- 3%). Adrenic acid (10(-6) M) and DH-16,17-EET (10(-6) M) hyperpolarized coronary arterial smooth muscle. DH-16,17-EET (10(-8)-10(-6) M) activated iberiotoxin-sensitive, whole cell K(+) currents of isolated smooth muscle cells. Thus, in bovine coronary arteries, adrenic acid causes endothelium-dependent relaxations that are mediated by cyclooxygenase and cytochrome P-450 metabolites. The adrenic acid metabolite, DH-16,17-EET, activates smooth muscle K(+) channels to cause hyperpolarization and relaxation. Our results suggest a role of adrenic acid metabolites, specifically, DH-EETs as endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factors in the coronary circulation.     

Existence of two types of postjunctional alpha-adrenoceptors in the isolated canine internal carotid artery

The pharmacological characteristics of postjunctional alpha-adrenoceptors in isolated canine internal carotid arteries were investigated by the use of selective agonists and antagonists for alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors. Norepinephrine, phenylephrine, and xylazine caused concentration-dependent contractions in the helical strips. The contraction induced by 10(-4)M xylazine was significantly smaller than that produced by 10(-4)M norepinephrine or 10(-4)M phenylephrine. The contraction induced by 10(-4)M phenylephrine was almost the same value as that induced by 10(-4)M norepinephrine. Phentolamine (10(-8) and 10(-7)M) caused a parallel shift to the right of the concentration-response curve to norepinephrine. The contractile responses to low concentrations of norepinephrine were significantly suppressed by pretreatment with an alpha 2-antagonist such as yohimbine (10(-9) and 10(-8)M) or DG5128 (10(-7) and 10(-6)M). On the other hand, the responses to higher concentrations of norepinephrine were mainly reduced by low concentrations of an alpha 1-antagonist, prazosin (3 x 10(-10) and 3 x 10(-9)M). These results suggest that both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors are located on the plasma membrane of smooth muscle cells in canine internal carotid arteries and that the norepinephrine-induced contractions at low and high concentrations are mainly mediated by activation of alpha 2- and alpha 1-adrenoceptors, respectively.     

Effects of diabetes on the vascular response to nitric oxide and constrictor prostanoids: gender and regional differences

To analyze the effects of diabetes mellitus on the vascular responsiveness to nitric oxide and thromboxane receptor stimulation, 2 mm long segments of basilar, coronary, renal and tail arteries from male and female, control (normoglycemic) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, were prepared for isometric tension recording. In the segments at basal resting tension, the thromboxane analog U46619 (10(-9)-10(-5) M) produced concentration-dependent contraction, which was similar in arteries from male and female rats, and was reduced by diabetes in coronary arteries from male and in tail arteries from female rats. In the vascular segments precontracted with endothelin-1 (10(-9) M), acetylcholine (10(-9)-3 x 10(-5) M) produced concentration-dependent relaxation which was similar in all arteries from normoglycemic male and female rats, and was increased by diabetes in tail arteries from female, but not in those from male rats. In precontracted segments the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (10(-10)-10(-5) M) also produced concentration-dependent relaxation, which was higher in basilar arteries from normoglycemic females compared with males, and was increased by diabetes in tail arteries from female but not from male rats. These results suggest that diabetes may increase the relaxation to nitric oxide in tail arteries, and may reduce the contraction to thromboxane receptor activation in coronary and tail arteries in a gender-dependent way. These changes in vascular reactivity may be adaptative to the vascular alterations produced by diabetes.     

A formyl peptide contracts guinea pig lung: role of arachidonic acid metabolites

We studied the role of cyclooxygenase and lipoxygenase products of arachidonic acid metabolism in mediating N-formyl-methionyl-leucyl-phenylalanine- (FMLP) induced contractions of guinea pig lung parenchymal strips. The cyclooxygenase inhibitors indomethacin (10(-5) M) and aspirin (3 X 10(-5) to 10(-4) M), the lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid (10(-5) to 3 X 10(-5) M), and the combined cyclooxygenase/lipoxygenase inhibitors 1-phenyl-3-pyrazolidinone (Phenidone) (3 X 10(-5) to 3 X 10(-4) M) and BW 755C (10(-5) to 10(-4) M) each caused a decrease in the maximum force induced by FMLP (Fmax) and an increase in the concentration of FMLP required to produce 50% of Fmax (EC50). The thromboxane synthesis inhibitor imidazole (3 X 10(-3) M) also decreased Fmax. The leukotriene D4 receptor antagonist FPL 55712 (5.7 X 10(-6) to 1.9 X 10(-5) M) increased the EC50 for FMLP, whereas desensitization of lung parenchymal strips to leukotriene B4 by pretreatment with this leukotriene (10(-7) M) had no effect on FMLP-induced contraction. After exposure to FMLP (10(-6) M), guinea pig lung produced (as determined by high-performance liquid chromatography and radioimmunoassay) leukotrienes C4 and B4, thromboxane A2 (as measured by its stable degradation product thromboxane B2), and prostaglandin F2 alpha. Lung strips not exposed to FMLP showed no evidence of leukotriene production. We conclude that thromboxane A2 and leukotriene C4 generated in response to FMLP mediate a substantial fraction of the force induced by this peptide in guinea pig lung parenchymal strips.     

Retention of endothelium-dependent vasodilatory responses in canine coronary arteries following cryopreservation

In the present study, the cryoprotective effect of dimethyl sulfoxide (Me2SO) and fetal calf serum (FCS) on coronary endothelium and endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) responses was studied in isolated canine coronary arteries following cryostorage at -75 degrees C. Compared to the freshly isolated coronary arteries, the EDR responses to acetylcholine, thrombin, and calcium ionophore were not significantly altered following 1 day storage at -75 degrees C in the presence of 1.8 M Me2SO and 20% FCS. Prolonged cold storage to 7 days, however, resulted in a slight, but significant, rightward shift of the concentration-response curves of acetylcholine and thrombin, but not calcium ionophore. The maximum relaxant response after 7-day cryostorage was 80 to 85% of fresh controls. Omission of FCS from the cryostorage incubation medium further accentuated the loss of EDR responses to all three endothelium-dependent vasodilators tested. Scanning electron microscopic examinations of the intimal surface of the Me2SO and FCS cryostored canine coronary arteries confirmed the preservation of intimal endothelial cells following 1 or 7 days of storage at -75 degrees C, while significant patches of loss of endothelial cells were observed in the arteries cryostored only in the presence of Me2SO. No significant inhibitory effect of cryostorage was observed for the direct, endothelium-independent relaxation induced by isoproterenol, regardless of the presence or absence of FCS. These results demonstrate that slow freezing of canine coronary arteries to -75 degrees C in Krebs-Henseleit solution containing Me2SO and FCS provides good preservation of the vascular smooth muscle function and endothelium-dependent vasodilatory responses.     

Exercise training restores adenosine-induced relaxation in coronary arteries distal to chronic occlusion

We previously reported that canine collateral-dependent coronary arteries exhibit impaired relaxation to adenosine but not sodium nitroprusside. In contrast, exercise training enhances adenosine sensitivity of normal porcine coronary arteries. These results stimulated the hypothesis that chronic coronary occlusion and exercise training produce differential effects on cAMP- versus cGMP-mediated relaxation. To test this hypothesis, Ameroid occluders were surgically placed around the proximal left circumflex coronary artery (LCx) of female Yucatan miniature swine 8 wk before initiating sedentary or exercise training (treadmill run, 16 wk) protocols. Relaxation to the cAMP-dependent vasodilators adenosine (10(-7) to 10(-3) M) and isoproterenol (3 x 10(-8) to 3 x 10(-5) M) were impaired in collateral-dependent LCx versus nonoccluded left anterior descending (LAD) arterial rings isolated from sedentary but not exercise-trained pigs. Furthermore, adenosine-mediated reductions in simultaneous tension and myoplasmic free Ca(2+) were impaired in LCx versus LAD arteries isolated from sedentary but not exercise-trained pigs. In contrast, relaxation in response to the cAMP-dependent vasodilator forskolin (10(-9) to 10(-5) M) and the cGMP-dependent vasodilator sodium nitroprusside (10(-9) to 10(-4) M) was not different in LCx versus LAD arteries of sedentary or exercise-trained animals. These data suggest that chronic occlusion impairs receptor-dependent, cAMP-mediated relaxation; receptor-independent cAMP- and cGMP-mediated relaxation were unimpaired. Importantly, exercise training restores cAMP-mediated relaxation of collateral-dependent coronary arteries.     

Endothelium-dependent responses in small human mesenteric arteries

The aim of the present study was to investigate the endothelial function in human mesenteric arteries with specific reference to defining the role of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (EDNO) and the endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). Isolated segments of small human mesenteric arteries (225-450 microm inner diameter) were mounted in organ baths for recording isometric tension. In arteries precontracted with U46619 (thromboxane A(2) analogue, 10(-7) M), endothelium-dependent relaxations were induced in a concentration-dependent manner by substance P and histamine. In normal Krebs solution the relaxations to substance P (10(-9) M) and histamine (10(-7) M) were not significantly affected by preincubation with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 10(-4) M) or indomethacin (10(-5) M). When the preparations were exposed to a solution containing 60 mM KCl, stable contractions were induced, but relaxations could still be induced by substance P and histamine. When the arteries were further preincubated with L-NNA, the relaxations were almost abolished. A combination of apamin (3 x 10(-7) M) and charybdotoxin (10(-9) M) almost abolished relaxations in normal Krebs solution. It is concluded that isolated human mesenteric arteries respond to substance P and histamine with relaxations that are endothelium-dependent. Synthesis of both EDNO and EDHF seem important for these relaxations, whereas prostaglandins seem to be of minor importance.     

Endothelium-dependent contraction induced by nicotine in isolated canine basilar artery--possible involvement of a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) like substance

The present experiments were undertaken to determine whether the response to nicotine in the isolated canine cerebral artery is endothelium-dependent. Changes in the tension of arterial strips were recorded isometrically. Removal of the endothelium was carried out by gentle rubbing, and confirmed by scanning electron microscopy. Rubbing procedure did not affect the contractile response of the strips to serotonin. Treatment of unrubbed strips with nicotine (10(-4)M) caused a transient contraction. This response was abolished by removal of endothelium and attenuated by hexamethonium (5 x 10(-6)M) and atropine (10(-6)M). The nicotine-induced contraction was attenuated also by aspirin (5 x 10(-5)M), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, OKY-046 (5 x 10(-5)M), a thromboxane A2 (TXA2) synthetase inhibitor and ONO-3708 (5 x 10(-9)M), a TXA2 antagonist. These results indicate that the nicotine-induced contraction in canine cerebral artery is endothelium-dependent, and suggest that the endothelium-derived contracting factor (EDCF) in the nicotine-induced response is a TXA2-like substance.     

Synthesis and vascular actions of an arachidonic acid ethylene-diamino-triethyl-ester (AA-EDTA) derivative

An ethylene-diamino-triethyl-ester derivative of arachidonic acid (AA-EDTA) was newly synthesized and tested for its coronary vasoactivity in isolated perfused cat coronary arteries. This arachidonic acid analog exerted a coronary vasodilator effect and significantly antagonized the coronary vasoconstrictor effect of LTD4. The constrictor response to the thromboxane analog carbocyclic thromboxane A2 was unaffected by AA-EDTA. These properties of AA-EDTA may be useful in counteracting the vasoconstrictor influence of leukotrienes in situations such as coronary artery vasospasm.     

Effects of prostacyclin on the canine isolated basilar artery.

Prostacyclin (PGI2) produced a biphasic response in canine isolated basilar arteries. In low doses (1 X 10(-8)M-1 X 10(-7)M) PGI2 caused a slight but consistent relaxation of resting muscle tone. In low concentrations (1 X 10(-8)M-1 X 10(-6)M) PGI2 antagonized muscle contractions caused by serotonin or prostaglandin (PG) F2 alpha. This relaxant effect with low doses of PGI2 on the isolated cerebral artery contrasts with findings obtained with other PGs and supports the hypothesis that PGI2 is a mediator of vasodilatation. However, in 1 X 10(-5)M concentrations PGI2 contracted the arterial muscle and did not antagonize contractions induced by serotonin or PGF2 alpha.     

Constriction of cat coronary arteries by synthetic thromboxane A2 and its antagonism

Synthetic thromboxane A2 (TxA2S) induced rapid, concentration-dependent constriction of isolated perfused cat coronary arteries. Its potency was approximately 30 times that of the prostaglandin endoperoxide, PGH2. Pinane thromboxane A2 (PTA2), BM-13.505 and SQ-29,548, compounds previously shown to antagonize the effects of stable prostaglandin endoperoxide analogs, inhibited the constriction induced by TxA2S in a concentration-dependent fashion. These experiments provide further evidence that the oxetane structure proposed for TxA2 is correct and show that compounds that inhibit the effects of prostaglandin endoperoxides also antagonize the effects of TxA2.     

Time-dependent potentiation of contractile response to norepinephrine in canine isolated cerebral arteries.

The time course of contractile responses to alpha-adrenoceptor agonists was investigated using various arteries isolated from dogs and monkeys. The contractile response to norepinephrine was increased during the time course of the experiment in canine basilar and internal carotid arteries, whereas the response of isolated canine external carotid arteries and monkey internal carotid arteries did not change significantly. Treatment with 10(-7) M propranolol, 5 x 10(-6) M cocaine plus 10(-5) M hydrocortisone, or 5 x 10(-5) M acetylsalicylic acid did not significantly affect the time-dependent potentiation of the norepinephrine-induced contraction in canine internal carotid arteries. The time-dependent enhancement in the response to norepinephrine was also observed in the arterial preparations from which the endothelial cells were removed. The contractile response of canine internal carotid arteries to phenylephrine did not alter significantly throughout the experiments. On the other hand, the responses to clonidine and xylazine were markedly enhanced with time. Significant potentiation of the norepinephrine-induced contraction was observed in canine internal carotid arteries treated with 10(-8) M prazosin, whereas 10(-8) M yohimbine attenuated the time-dependent potentiation. These results suggest that the contractile responses of isolated canine basilar and internal carotid arteries to norepinephrine are potentiated during the course of the experiment, which is likely to be related, in part, to an enhancement in alpha 2-adrenoceptor mediated contraction.     

Possible role of nitric oxide and arachidonic acid pathways in hypoxia-induced contraction of rabbit coronary artery rings

In isolated coronary arteries, hypoxia induces an increase in tone by releasing an unidentified endothelium-derived contracting factor (EDCF). Isometric force was measured in an isolated rabbit coronary artery ring at 37 degrees C in control and high K+ (40 mM) pre-contracted conditions. Hypoxia (15 mmHg pO2) induced by equilibrating the perfusate with nitrogen. Hypoxia did not affect the resting tone but induced an endothelium-dependent contraction on pre-contracted rings. Inhibitors of nitric oxide (NO) were tested, L-NAME (10(-4) M) totally and L-NMMA (10(-4) M) partially convert the hypoxic contraction to an hypoxic relaxation. The addition of L-arginine (10(-4) or 10(-3) M) did not restore the response. Methylene blue (10( -5) M) and ODQ (1 H-[1,2,4] oxadiazolo-[4,3-a] quinoxalin-1-one, 10(-5) M), both inhibitors of guanylate cyclase, also changed the hypoxic contraction into a hypoxic relaxation. Catalase (1200 U/ml), which decomposes hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and superoxide dismutase (150 U/ml, SOD), a free radical scavenger, did not change the hypoxic response but quinacrine (50 microM), an inhibitor of phospholipase A2, significantly decreased it. Inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism (indomethacin, diethylcarbamazine, miconazole) however did not affect the hypoxic response. We conclude that in K+ pre-contracted rabbit coronary artery rings, hypoxia induces a contraction which is nitric oxide and arachidonic acid dependent.     

Endothelium-dependent contraction induced by substance P in canine cerebral arteries: involvement of NK1 receptors and thromboxane A2

We characterized the endothelial responses to substance P (SP) in the isolated canine cerebral artery. SP caused concentration-dependent contraction at 10(-10) - 10(-7) M and relaxation at 10(-10) and 10(-9) M, which were abolished by removal of the endothelium. The SP-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation (EDR) was suppressed, while the endothelium-dependent contraction (EDC) was increased by repeated application. The EDC induced by SP (10(-7) M) was attenuated by SR-140333 (10(-9) - 10(-7) M) and CP-99994 (10(-7) M), both NK1 antagonists, but not by SR-48968 (10(-7) M), an NK2 antagonist, or four antagonistic SP analogues (10(-6) M). The EDC induced by SP (10(-7) M) was attenuated by aspirin (10(-5) M), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, OKY-046 (10(-5) M), a TXA2 synthetase inhibitor and ONO-3708 (10(-8) M), a TXA2 antagonist. Neurokinin A (10(-7) M) but not neurokinin B (10(-7) M) caused EDC similar to that induced by SP. In conclusion, SP induces EDC via endothelial NK1 receptors and TXA2 production in canine cerebral arteries.     

Effects of sulfhydryl reagents on nitroglycerin-induced relaxation of bovine coronary artery

The mechanism whereby nitroglycerin relaxes vascular smooth muscle remains uncertain. A current hypothesis suggests that nitroglycerin reacts with critical cellular sulfhydryl groups to form an intermediate, which activates guanylate cyclase, resulting in cGMP accumulation and relaxation. This study investigated further the potential involvement of sulfhydryls in nitroglycerin-induced vascular smooth muscle relaxation by evaluating effects of a variety of sulfhydryl alkylating and reducing agents on responses to nitroglycerin and other relaxants in bovine coronary arterial strips submaximally contracted using 30 mM K. Whereas 10(-4) M 5,5'-dithiobis-(2-nitrobenzoic acid), 10(-5) MN-ethylmaleimide, and 10(-4) MN-naphthylmaleimide did not affect nitroglycerin-induced relaxation, 10(-4) MN-ethylmaleimide and 10(-4) M ethacrynic acid significantly inhibited relaxation induced by nitroglycerin. Both ethacrynic acid and N-ethylmaleimide at 10(-4) M also inhibited relaxation induced by sodium nitroprusside. N-ethylmaleimide, but not ethacrynic acid, inhibited relaxation induced by isoproterenol and forskolin. Ethacrynic acid significantly reduced both relaxation and cGMP elevation induced by both 10(-7) M nitroglycerin and 10(-7) M sodium nitroprusside. Ethacrynic acid, but not N-ethylmaleimide, significantly reduced relaxation induced by 8-Br-cGMP. Pretreatment with the sulfhydryl-containing agents N-acetylcysteine, 2-mercaptoethanol, or dithiothreitol, at 10(-3) M did not affect nitroglycerin-induced relaxation in nontolerant arteries. Similarly, N-acetylcysteine and dithiothreitol did not alter the depressed responses to nitroglycerin in arteries in which tolerance to nitroglycerin was induced in vitro. A slight but statistically significant reversal of nitroglycerin-tolerance occurred after treatment of tolerant arteries with 2-mercaptoethanol.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)