Increased mechanosensitive currents in aortic endothelial cells from genetically hypertensive rats

OBJECTIVE: To characterize and compare mechanosensitive cell currents in rat aortic endothelial cells from spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto rats. METHODS AND RESULTS: By use of the patch-clamp technique, we investigated whole-cell currents of native rat aortic endothelial cells in the presence of mechanical stimulation elicited by hyposmotic cell swelling. In rat aortic endothelial cells, this hypotonic cell swelling induced a fourfold increase in outward-directed whole-cell currents carried by K+, leading to cell hyperpolarization and a small increase in inward-directed currents. Gadolinium, a blocker of stretch-activated cation channels, completely blocked hypotonic cell swelling-induced outward- and inward-directed whole-cell currents. Charybdotoxin, a blocker of Ca(2+)-dependent K+ channels, decreased hypotonic cell swelling-induced outward-directed currents by up to 85%. Disruption of actin filaments by cytochalasin B and of microtubuli by nocodazole reduced the activation of hypotonic cell swelling-induced whole-cell currents by 91 and 71%, respectively. In experimental hypertension, hypotonic cell swelling-induced whole-cell conductance was significantly increased in spontaneously hypertensive rats (331 +/- 20 pS/pF) compared with normotensive controls (167 +/- 7 pS/pF, P < 0.01), whereas basal and agonist-induced cell conductances were not altered. CONCLUSIONS: Increased hypotonic swelling-induced currents in aortic endothelial cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats presumably reflect an increased density or mechanosensitivity of stretch-activated ion channels in experimental hypertension. The increased mechanosensitive whole-cell currents might indicate an altered endothelial mechanotransduction in experimental hypertension.     

Inhibition of inward rectifier K+ currents by angiotensin II in rat atrial myocytes: lack of effects in cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

We examined the effects of angiotensin II (Ang II) on inward rectifier K+ currents (IK1) in rat atrial myocytes. [125I]Ang II-binding assays revealed the presence of both Ang II type 1 (AT1) and type 2 (AT2) receptors in atrial membrane preparations. Ang II inhibited IK1 in isolated atrial myocytes with an IC50 of 46 nmol/l. This inhibition was abolished by the AT, antagonist RNH6270 but not at all by the AT2 antagonist PD123319. Treatment of cells with pertussis toxin or a synthetic decapeptide corresponding to the carboxyl-terminus of Gialpha-3 abolished the inhibition by Ang II, indicating the role of a Gi-dependent signaling pathway. Accordingly, Ang II failed to inhibit IK1 in the presence of forskolin, dibutyryl-cAMP or protein kinase A catalytic subunits. In spite of the increased binding capacities for [125I]Ang II, Ang II failed to affect IKI in cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). AT, immunoprecipitation from atrial extracts revealed decreased amounts of Gialpha-2 and Gialpha-3 proteins associated with this receptor in SHR as compared with controls. The reduced coupling of AT, with Gialpha. proteins may underlie the unresponsiveness of atrial IK1 to Ang II in SHR cells.     

Abnormal Ca2+ signalling in vascular endothelial cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats: role of free radicals

OBJECTIVE: To test the hypothesis that the Ca2+ signal transduction process in endothelial cells from genetically hypertensive rats (SHR) is affected by an overproduction of free radicals. METHODS: The Ca2+ response to the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate (IP3) mobilizing agonist, ATP, was measured using the fluorescent probe, fura-2, in endothelial cells from Sprague-Dawley rats, and in young and age-matched genetically hypertensive rats (SHR). The effect of free radicals and reducing agents on the intracellular release of Ca2+ and IP3productionwas determined in resting and ATP-stimulated cells. Experiments were also performed to compare the level of expression and enzymatic activity of catalase and superoxide dismutase (SOD) in endothelial cells from SHR and Sprague-Dawley rats. RESULTS: The exposure of aortic endothelial cells from Sprague-Dawley rats to the free-radical generating system, hypoxanthine + xanthine oxidase (HX/XO), caused a time- and concentration-dependent inhibition of the ATP-induced Ca2+ response. A similar HX/XO-dependent inhibition was also observed in Sprague-Dawley cells stimulated with the endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin. Incubation with the antioxidative enzymes, catalase and SOD, had no effect on the ATP-induced Ca2+ release in Sprague-Dawley cells, but led to a strong increase in the internal release of Ca2+ in cells from adult (12 weeks old) or young (3 weeks old) SHR. The effect of antioxidants was not related either to an enhancement of the ATP-induced production of IP3, or to a lower expression and activity of SOD and catalase. CONCLUSION: The present work provides evidence that the Ca2+ signalling process in SHR endothelial cells is affected by an overproduction of free radicals, resulting in a depletion of releasable Ca2+ from IP3-sensitive and insensitive Ca2+ pools. These results point towards a beneficial action of antioxidants on Ca2+ signalling in endothelial cells from models of hypertension.     

Coculture of vascular endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats

The effect of endothelium-released vasoactive factors on vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation was studied in a coculture system. Isolated aortic endothelial cells and smooth muscle cells from 4-week-old spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats were cocultured. After coculture, the VSMC proliferation rate was examined by 3H-thymidine incorporation assay and the levels of the vasoactive factors in medium were determined by enzyme immunoassay (EIA). The results indicate that the proliferation rate of VSMCs in SHR was significantly higher than in WKY rats when VSMCs were cultured alone. When SHR vascular endothelial cells (VECs) were cocultured with VSMCs, the proliferation rate of SHR VSMCs was enhanced; however, there was no growth promoting effect in WKY VSMCs. When WKY VECs were cocultured with VSMCs, no VSMC proliferation effect was observed. When VSMCs were cultured alone, the endothelin-1 (ET-1) secretion in SHR was significantly higher than in WKY rats. When VECs and VSMCs were cocultured, the ET-1 concentration increased in both SHR VEC and WKY VEC coculture groups in a similar manner; but the SHR VECs tended to release more thromboxaneA2 (TXA2) and less PGI2 than WKY VECs. These results suggest that some kind of interaction between SHR VSMCs and SHR VECs is responsible for the high proliferation of SHR VSMCs but not the effects of SHR VECs per se.     

Decreased intracellular phosphate and magnesium concentrations in vascular smooth muscle cells from spontaneously hypertensive rats

A decrease in total magnesium content is not a direct proof of a decreased magnesium ion concentration. It could reflect a phosphate alteration or an ATP metabolism disorder. Plasma phosphate levels are lower in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than in Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY), and defects in membrane regulation or mitochondrial ATP synthase occur. Only sparse data exist concerning cellular magnesium and phosphate concentrations in hypertensive cells. In aortic smooth muscle cells from 10 SHR of the Münster strain and 10 age-matched normotensive WKY, the intracellular phosphate and magnesium content was measured by electron probe X-ray microanalysis (Camscan CS 24 apparatus, Cambridge, U.K.). The Mg^–+ content was 0.90 ± 0.15 g/kg dry weight in SHR versus 1.15 ± 0.10 g/kg dry weight in WKY (p<0.05). Vascular smooth muscle phosphate content was 23.6 ± 0.79 g/kg dry weight in WKY versus 15.81 ± 1.22 g/kg dry weight in SHR (p<0.01). Aortic smooth muscle cells from SHR are characterized by markedly lowered cellular phosphate and magnesium concentrations and an altered ATP metabolism.Presented in part at the 41st Annual World Congress, International College of Angiology, Sapporo, Japan, July 1999.     

Comparison of K+ currents in cardiac Purkinje cells isolated from rabbit and dog

The repolarization reserve determines the ability of drugs to prolong the cardiac action potential duration. Differences in K(+) currents between rabbit and dog cardiac Purkinje cells were studied by recording the transient outward K(+) current (I(to)) as well as the delayed rectifier K(+) currents (I(Ks) and I(Kr)) during repolarization. Purkinje fibers were dissected from dog and rabbit hearts and exposed to enzymatic digestion until isolated cells were obtained. Whole cell voltage clamp methods were used to measure K(+) currents in both cell types. Action potential (AP) recordings from Purkinje cells displayed a rapid phase 1 repolarization due to a prominent I(to) with densities of 13.3+/-2.3 and 9.6+/-0.6 pA/pF at +40 mV in dog and rabbit respectively. I(Ks) tail currents were significantly larger in dog Purkinje cells. I(Kr) tail current densities were comparable in Purkinje cell from both species. Rabbit ventricular and Purkinje cell AP waveforms were used for action potential clamp experiments in TSA201 cells expressing human ether a go-go related gene (HERG). HERG currents elicited by the ventricular waveform reached its maximum amplitude during phase 3 repolarization. In contrast, Purkinje cell AP waveform elicited markedly smaller HERG currents even though the action potential duration was longer. The observations suggest that the fast phase 1 and negative plateau of the Purkinje cell AP limits the contribution of I(Kr) to repolarization. These results provide evidence that rabbit Purkinje cells have a smaller repolarization reserve and provide a biophysical explanation for a previously observed higher sensitivity to QT prolonging drugs in rabbit than dog Purkinje fibers.     

O2-sensitive K+ currents in carotid body chemoreceptor cells from normoxic and chronically hypoxic rats and their roles in hypoxic chemotransduction.

Carotid body-mediated ventilatory increases in response to acute hypoxia are attenuated in animals reared in an hypoxic environment. Normally, O2-sensitive K+ channels in neurosecretory type I carotid body cells are intimately involved in excitation of the intact organ by hypoxia. We have therefore studied K+ channels and their sensitivity to acute hypoxia (PO2 12-20 mmHg) in type I cells isolated from neonatal rats born and reared in normoxic and hypoxic environments. When compared with cells from normoxic rats, K+ current density in cells from hypoxic rats was significantly reduced, whereas Ca2+ current density was unaffected. Charybdotoxin (20 nM) inhibited K+ currents in cells from normoxic rats by approximately 25% but was without significant effect in cells from hypoxic rats. However, hypoxia caused similar, reversible inhibitions of K+ currents in cells from the two groups. Resting membrane potentials (measured at 37 degrees C using the perforated-patch technique) were similar in normoxic and hypoxic rats. However, although acute hypoxia depolarized type I cells of normoxic rats, it was without effect on membrane potential in type I cells from hypoxic animals. Charybdotoxin (20 nM) also depolarized cells from normoxic rats. Our results suggest that type I cells from chronically hypoxic rats, like normoxic rats, possess O2-sensing mechanisms. However, they lack charybdotoxin-sensitive K+ channels that contribute to resting membrane potential in normoxically reared rats, and this appears to prevent them from depolarizing (and hence triggering Ca2+ influx and neurosecretion) during acute hypoxia.     

Muscarinic-activated K+ current in bovine aortic endothelial cells

Isolated, cultured arterial endothelial cells express an acetylcholine (ACh)-activated K+ current in addition to an inward rectifier current whose conductance is unaffected by ACh. The cholinergic K+ current is specifically blocked by atropine (1 microM) and shows single saturation kinetics with ACh (half-maximal stimulation 51 nM ACh). Unlike the cardiac muscarinic receptor-gated K+ channel, its stimulation appears independent of a pertussis toxin-sensitive GTP-binding protein. Activation of the endothelial muscarinic K+ current resulting in hyperpolarization may represent an initial component of the vasodilatory effect of ACh.     

K+ currents of glomus cells and chemosensory functions of carotid body.

The mechanism by which the carotid body senses hypoxia is not resolved, but the glomus cell, a secretory cell apposed to the afferent nerve endings, is believed to play an essential role. It is proposed that hypoxia causes glomus cell depolarization, leading to activation of voltage-gated calcium influx and enhanced secretion of an excitatory transmitter. The initial step, hypoxia induced depolarization, may be mediated by several candidate K+ channels which are sensitive to hypoxia, including: (1) a transient, voltage-dependent current; (2) a calcium and voltage dependent current; and (3) a non-voltage dependent, leak K+ current. If these channels represent the initial step in the hypoxia transduction cascade then it would be expected that K+ channel blocking agents would mimic the hypoxia response, leading to glomus cell secretion and increased nerve activity. This has been tested for the first two channels which are sensitive to classical K+ channel blocking agents, and, in general, results have not borne out this prediction. At present, the pharmacology of the leak K+ channel is not determined, and the experiment has not been undertaken. Thus, at present, hypoxic inhibition to a K+ channel in the glomus cell may initiate chemotransduction but there are many unanswered questions, especially the failure of K+ channel blocking agents to emulate the hypoxic response.     

Decreased myocardial Na+K+ATPase activity in rats with reduced renal mass-saline hypertension

Inhibition of cardiovascular Na,K-pump activity has been shown to promote an increase in the contractile activity of myocardial and vascular smooth muscle and a consequent rise in blood pressure (BP). It has also been shown that vascular Na,K-pump activity and myocardial Na+K+ATPase activity [the energy source for active sodium (Na) and potassium (K) transport] are decreased in rats with various forms of low renin hypertension including rats with reduced renal mass-saline (RRM-saline) hypertension. In the present study, left ventricular Na+K+ATPase activity from rats with RRM-saline hypertension was found to be decreased in membranes prepared by two independent methods: deoxycholate, sodium iodide (Nal)-treated microsomal fractions (method 1) and membranes prepared by the hypotonic, lithium bromide (LiBr) method (method 2). Relative to RRM normotensive control rats which drank distilled water, myocardial Na+K+ATPase activity from RRM-saline drinking rats was decreased by 18.2% in membranes prepared by method 1 and 33.6% in membranes prepared by method 2. The apparent affinities of Na+K+ATPase for K and for ouabain were unaltered relative to controls in membranes prepared from these hypertensive rats by method 1, and the sialic acid content and 5'-nucleotidase activity (two putative sarcolemmal markers) were unaltered in membranes from the hypertensive rats, prepared by methods 1 and 2 respectively. The Mg2+ATPase activity of membranes prepared by method 1 was increased in the RRM-saline hypertensive rats but because it was not increased in membranes prepared by method 2 the former observation does not appear to be of any pathophysiological importance. In other experiments, hypertension was reversed in RRM-saline hypertensive rats by restricting their salt intake (substitution of distilled water for drinking).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Decreased cardiac beta-adrenergic receptors in deoxycorticosterone-salt and renal hypertensive rats.

The development of experimental deoxycorticosterone-salt (DOCA-salt) and renal artery clip hypertension in rats is associated with alterations in the sensitivity of the myocardium to adrenergic stimulation. We studied beta-adrenergic receptors and isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase in myocardial membranes from hypertensive rats to determine whether this altered sensitivity is associated with any change in beta-adrenergic receptors. The specific binding of the beta-adrenergic antagonist, 125I-iodohydroxybenzylpindolol, was used to measure numbers and affinities of receptors in myocardial membrane preparations. Cardiac membranes from both DOCA-salt and renal hypertensive rats showed significantly fewer beta-receptors than did membranes from control, normotensive rats. Receptor affinity remained unchanged. This decrease was from 110 +/- 19 to 49 +/- 5 fmol/mg protein for DOCA-salt hypertension and from 110 +/- 18 to 75 +/- 16 fmol/mg protein for renal artery clip hypertension. Isoproterenol-stimulated adenylate cyclase activity also was lower in membranes from hypertensive rats, whereas basal and fluoride-stimulated activities were unchanged.     

Decreased hypothalamic and medullary GABA turnover in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

OBJECTIVE: The aim was to assess whether Gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurone activities in the central nervous system, especially in the hypothalamus and medulla oblangata, are altered in hypertension. METHODS: Central GABA content and turnover rate were measured in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their normotensive Wistar Kyoto controls (WKY). GABA content was determined with high performance liquid chromatography, and in vivo GABA turnover rates were estimated by GABA accumulation after injection of amino-oxyacetic acid, a selective inhibitor of GABA degrading system. Two groups of nine week old male rats (32 SHR and 32 WKY) were used. RESULTS: GABA concentrations in cerebrospinal fluid were lower in SHR than in WKY. Since hypothalamus and medulla oblongata are the possible active sites of this system, basal GABA contents and in vivo GABA turnover rates were measured in hypothalamus and medulla oblongata. Basal GABA content in the medulla oblongata and hypothalamus was almost equal in SHR and WKY. On the other hand, GABA turnover rates were significantly lower in SHR than in WKY in both the hypothalamus and the medulla. CONCLUSIONS: Since it is known that GABA is an inhibitory neurotransmitter in the central nervous system and that it controls autonomic and cardiovascular activities, the findings suggest that the decreased hypothalamic and medullary GABAergic activities may permit sympathetic hyperactivity to contribute to the increase in blood pressure in SHR.     

Na+ and Mg2+ contents in smooth muscle cells in spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Whereas in blood cells decreased magnesium concentrations and increased sodium concentrations in essential hypertension have often been described, only sparse data exist on cellular magnesium or sodium content and exchange in vascular smooth muscle cells. Therefore in aortic smooth muscle cells from 10 spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) of the Münster strain and 10 normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) aged 8 to 10 months, the intracellular magnesium and sodium content was measured. Electron-probe X-ray microanalysis was used to determine intracellular Mg2+ and Na+ concentrations in aortic cryosections 3 microm thick. The magnesium ion content was 0.90 +/- 0.15 g/kg dry weight in SHR versus 1.15 +/- 0.10 g/kg dry weight in WKY (means +/- SD, P < .05). Vascular smooth muscle sodium ion content was 6.66 +/- 0.39 g/kg dry weight in WKY and 12.61 +/- 0.91 g/kg dry weight in SHR (P < .01). Aortic smooth muscle cells from SHR are characterized by markedly lowered intracellular magnesium ion content and increased sodium ion concentrations in animals 8 to 10 months old, compared with normotensive cells. The results may be due to genetically determined disturbances in transmembrane magnesium and sodium ion transport.     

Neuronal NO mediates cerebral vasodilator responses to K+ in hypertensive rats

Potassium ion (K+) normally causes cerebral vasodilatation by activating inwardly rectifying K+ (K(IR)) channels. We tested whether chronic hypertension affects the magnitude and/or mechanism of K+-induced cerebral vasodilatation in vivo. Basilar artery responses were examined in anesthetized Wistar-Kyoto (WKY; mean arterial pressure, 114+/-4 mm Hg) and spontaneously hypertensive (SHR; 176+/-3 mm Hg) rats. In WKY, elevating cerebrospinal fluid K+ concentration from 3 mmol/L to 5 and 10 mmol/L caused vasodilatation (percent maximum, 12+/-1 and 48+/-7, respectively). The response to 5 mmol/L K+ was greater in SHR (percent maximum, 17+/-2 [P<0.05 versus WKY] and 49+/-4). The K(IR) channel inhibitor, barium ion (Ba2+, 100 micromol/L) selectively inhibited dilator responses to 5 and 10 mmol/L K+ by approximately 75% in WKY. In SHR, Ba2+ had no effect on the response to 5 mmol/L K+, and only partially inhibited (by approximately 40%) the response to 10 mmol/L K+. The nonselective NO synthase (NOS) inhibitor N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, the neuronal NOS (nNOS) inhibitor 1-(2-trifluromethyl-phenyl)imidazole, and the N-type calcium channel inhibitor omega-conotoxin GVIA, were all without effect in WKY, but markedly inhibited the response to 5 mmol/L K+ in SHR. When applied together with Ba2+, each of these inhibitors also profoundly reduced responses to 10 mmol/L K+ in SHR. Immunostaining of basilar arteries revealed that the perivascular nNOS-containing nerve plexus was denser in SHR. Thus, K+ dilates the normotensive basilar artery predominantly via K(IR) channel activation. During chronic hypertension, small physiological elevations in K+ dilate the basilar artery by an nNOS-dependent mechanism that appears to be upregulated in a compensatory manner.     

Abnormal net Na+ and K+ fluxes in erythrocytes of three varieties of genetically hypertensive rats.

Net Na+ and K+ fluxes were measured in Na+-loaded and K+-depleted erythrocytes of three varieties of genetically hypertensive rats. In Okamoto spontaneously hypertensive rats (4 and 10-12 weeks of age), Na+ extrusion was reduced as compared to normotensive controls (Wistar/Kyoto). Na+ extrusion was also reduced in the hypertension-prone substrain of the Hebrew University Sabra rats as compared to the Na+-resistant substrain. K+ fluxes were similar in both groups. In both Okamoto spontaneously hypertensive rats and the hypertension-prone substrain, hypertension was severe and developed rapidly. In the Lyon spontaneously hypertensive rats, in which the blood pressure elevation is less severe than in other genetically hypertensive rats, erythrocyte net Na+ extrusion was the same as in normotensive controls, but net K+ gain was slightly increased. These erythrocyte abnormalities, observed in three varieties of genetically transmitted hypertension of the rat, are in several aspects similar to those previously described in accelerated and benign human essential hypertension. Erythrocyte Na+ and K+ net flux alterations may thus represent biochemical markers of primary hypertension.     

Decreased rates of release of atrial natriuretic peptide from isolated hearts from aging hypertensive rats.

We tested the hypothesis that in genetically hypertensive New Zealand rats left ventricular hypertrophy predisposes to left atrial disease and should be associated with a decreased release of atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) in response to acute left atrial stretch. Abrupt distention of the left atrium was achieved by the acute onset of left atrial distention in Langendorff-perfused isolated rat hearts, which resulted in a rapid release of ANP in all groups of hearts. Comparisons were made between normotensive and hypertensive hearts using rats aged 2 months, 8 months, 12 months, and 16 months. Rates of release of ANP from normotensive and hypertensive hearts were similar at 2 months. Thereafter, there was a progressive impairment of ANP release, until in rats aged 16 months, rates of release achieved in hypertensive hearts 2 min after the onset of left atrial distention were only about half of those of normotensive hearts (55%, P < .005). At all ages above 2 months, hypertensive hearts failed to increase the concentration of ANP in the coronary effluent at the onset of increased heart work. Therefore, in rats with genetic hypertension, there is an impairment of release of ANP from the isolated heart in response to left atrial distention.     

Ganglion atrial natriuretic peptide in NaCl sensitive spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Reports from other laboratories have shown that atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) stores in sympathetic ganglia are increased during dietary NaCl supplementation in normotensive rats. We have previously demonstrated that dietary NaCl supplementation in NaCl sensitive spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR-S) exacerbates hypertension and enhances peripheral sympathetic nervous system activity, while NaCl resistant Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats show neither response. Since endogenous ANP may inhibit ganglion transmission, an inability of SHR-S to increase ganglion ANP appropriately in response to high NaCl feeding could contribute to the NaCl induced increase in sympathetic nervous system activity and blood pressure in this model, while an increase in ganglion ANP in NaCl supplemented WKY would tend to prevent sympathetic activity and blood pressure from rising. The current study tested the hypothesis that ganglion ANP levels increase in WKY but not in SHR-S during dietary NaCl supplementation. Male SHR-S and WKY rats were placed on 1% or 8% NaCl diets at 7 weeks of age. The rats were decapitated without prior anesthesia 3 weeks later, and the superior cervical and celiac ganglia were removed for the measurement of ANP by radioimmunoassay. Dietary NaCl supplementation produced significant increases in blood pressure in SHR-S, but not in WKY rats; the high NaCl diet was associated with significant increases in the ANP content of superior cervical and celiac ganglia in WKY rats, but not in SHR-S.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

脱氢表雄甾酮对慢性缺氧大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞钙激活性钾通道的作用

目的　研究钾通道开放剂脱氢表雄甾酮 (DHEA)对慢性缺氧大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞钙激活性钾通道 (KCa)的作用和缺氧性肺动脉高压的降压作用。方法　 50只Wistar大鼠随机分为对照组 (A组 ,10只 )和慢性缺氧组 (B组 ) ,B组又随机分为B1、B2 、B3 、B4 组 (每组各 10只 ) ,B组大鼠均以常压缺氧 3周建立大鼠慢性缺氧肺动脉高压模型。采用急性酶分离法分离得到大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞(SMCs)。应用膜片钳技术 ,在对称性高钾溶液中 ,于急性分离的大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞的内面向外式膜片 (inside outpatch)上 ,分离出KCa电流。比较A组和B1组KCa电流活性 ;观察DHEA对B1组KCa通道电流的激活作用。应用右心插管技术 ,测定给药前后B2 、B3 、B4 组大鼠平均肺动脉压 (mPAP)和平均体动脉压 (mSAP)等血流动力学指标。结果　B组大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞KCa活性比A组大鼠显著降低 (P <0 0 1)。DHEA可明显激活慢性缺氧所抑制的B1组大鼠肺动脉平滑肌细胞的KCa电流。给缺氧大鼠静脉注射DHEA可明显降低其mPAP(P <0 0 1) ,而对mSAP无明显作用 (P >0 0 5)。结论　缺氧对KCa通道的抑制作用在缺氧 3周大鼠缺氧性肺动脉高压发病中起着重要作用 ;DHEA可直接激活KCa活性而拮抗慢性缺氧对KCa的抑制作用 ;DHEA对大鼠慢性缺氧性肺动脉高压可产     

Decreased endothelium-dependent relaxation in New Zealand genetic hypertensive rats

The relaxation response to endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine and the calcium ionophore A23187) and independent (sodium nitroprusside) vasodilators was examined in isolated aortic ring segments from age-matched genetically hypertensive (GH) and normotensive (N) rats (New Zealand strain). Tissues were initially contracted with methoxamine to achieve similar levels of contractile force. The IC20, IC40 and IC50 values for acetylcholine, A23187 and sodium nitroprusside were shifted significantly to the right (P less than 0.05) in aortic rings from GH rats compared to the corresponding values in N rats. The maximal relaxation achieved by acetylcholine and A23187 was significantly depressed in aortas from GH rats (P less than 0.05). Sodium nitroprusside elicited the maximal relaxation in both groups of tissues. These results demonstrate that there exists a generalized defect in the relaxant ability of vascular smooth muscle from GH rats. In addition, our findings suggest that this defect is coupled with a decreased responsiveness to endothelium-dependent vasodilators in this particular animal model of hypertension.