Beneficial effect of arginine vasopressin on hemorrhagic shock through improving the vascular reactivity

The vascular reactivity and calcium sensitivity were decreased following hemorrhagic shock. Arginine vasopressin (AVP) was beneficial to endotoxic, infectious/spetic and hemorrhagic shock. Our previous studies found that Rho kinase played an important role in the occurrence of calcium desensitization following shock. It was reported that AVP was with stimulation effect of Rho kinase. So we hypothesized that AVP might have beneficial effect on shock via activation of Rho kinase to regulate the calcium sensitivity and vascular reactivity. Hemorrhagic shock (40 mmHg for 2 h) Wistar rats in vivo were adopted to observe the effects of small dose of AVP on hemodynamics, 24-h survival rate, the pressor effect of norepinephrine (NE) and the contractility of superior mesenteric artery (SMA). Isolated SMAs from hemorrhagic shock rats were adopted to observe the effects of AVP on vascular reactivity and calcium sensitivity and its relationship to Rho kinase with an isolated organ perfusion system. The results show that AVP at the concentration of 0.1 U/kg and 0.4 U/kg significantly improved the hemodynamic parameters and the 24-h survival rate of hemorrhagic shock rats. Meanwhile, these dosages of AVP significantly increased the pressor effect of NE and the contractile response of SMA to NE. Y-27632 (3 μg/kg), a Rho kinase specific inhibitor, abolished the beneficial effects of AVP. In vitro, the calcium sensitivity and vascular reactivity of SMA to calcium and NE were significantly decreased following hemorrhagic shock. AVP at the concentration of 0.5 nmol/L and 5 nmol/L significantly increased the calcium sensitivity and vascular reactivity. These effects of AVP were abolished by Y-27632 (10 μmol/L). Taken together, the results suggest that AVP at 0.1 U/kg and 0.4 U/kg is beneficial to hemorrhagic shock by improving the vascular reactivity, which involves activation of Rho kinase.     

Testosterone depletion contributes to cyclosporine-induced chronic impairment of acetylcholine renovascular relaxations

The immunosuppressant drug cyclosporine causes nephrotoxicity mainly via alterations of renovascular reactivity. This study investigated whether this effect of cyclosporine is modulated by the male gonadal hormone testosterone. The endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations evoked by acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside, respectively, were evaluated in phenylephrine-preconstricted isolated perfused kidneys obtained from sham-operated, castrated, and testosterone-replaced castrated (CAS+T) male rats in the absence and presence of cyclosporine. Compared with sham-operated values, short-term (10 days) castration or cyclosporine treatment caused significant and equivalent reductions in plasma testosterone levels and vasorelaxant responses to acetylcholine. Treatment of castrated rats with cyclosporine caused no further attenuation of acetylcholine relaxations. Testosterone replacement of castrated (CAS+T) or cyclosporine-treated castrated (CAS+CyA+T) rats restored plasma testosterone and acetylcholine relaxations to near-sham-operated levels. On the other hand, castration caused significant increases in nitroprusside relaxations versus no effect for cyclosporine. The relaxant responses to nitroprusside in castrated rats were restored to sham-operated levels after testosterone replacement. Plasma urea and creatinine were not affected by castration but were significantly increased by cyclosporine. These findings suggest that testosterone exerts directionally opposite modulatory effects on endothelium-dependent and -independent renal relaxations. Further, the results demonstrate that testosterone depletion may contribute, at least partly, to the inhibitory effect of cyclosporine on renovascular endothelial function. These data are clinically important because endothelial dysfunction contributes to vascular abnormalities associating cyclosporine therapy.     

Fasudil improves the endothelial dysfunction in the aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats

We investigated the effects of fasudil, a Rho kinase inhibitor, in the endothelial dysfunction of aortas from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). SHRs were divided in three groups; intraperitoneally (i.p.) vehicle-treated SHRs (SHR), SHRs treated with fasudil 3mg/kg i.p. (Fas3), and SHRs treated with fasudil 10mg/kg i.p. (Fas10). Vehicle-treated Wistar rats were used as normo-tensive control group. After a six-week-treatment, blood pressure and heart rate were measured by the tail cuff method. Afterwards animals were sacrificed and aortas were examined in vitro by organ bath studies to evaluate the contraction and relaxation ability. Rho kinase activity, myosin light chain (MLC), phosphorylated MLC (phospho-MLC), eNOS, phospho-eNOS protein expression and eNOS mRNA levels were evaluated. SHR demonstrated a significant hypercontractility and impaired relaxation compared to the control. Fasudil 10mg/kg significantly corrected the hypercontractility, restored the relaxation, and significantly decreased the mean arterial blood pressure, while no change observed in the systolic blood pressure. Rho kinase activity was significantly higher in the SHR, and was significantly inhibited by the high dose of fasudil. There was a slight up-regulation in the MLC, and phospho-MLC protein levels in the SHR. eNOS and phospho-eNOS protein levels were significantly lower in the SHR, and this abnormality was significantly normalized by fasudil treatment. No significant difference was observed in the eNOS gene expression. This study suggests that fasudil by inhibiting the Rho kinase activity normalizes the eNOS expression and phosphorylation and ameliorates the endothelial dysfunction induced by hypertension in the SHR model.     

Androgen deprivation, estrogen treatment and vascular function in male rat aorta

The beneficial effects of estrogen on arterial function in women are well established, whereas studies concerning the vascular role of androgens have produced conflicting results. In the present study, we examined the effects of androgen deprivation and of estrogen treatment on vascular responses in male rats. Vascular reactivity was studied in aortic rings excised from intact and castrated rats, which had been implanted with capsules containing either 17beta-estradiol (E2) or its vehicle for 5 days. Contractile responses to noradrenaline were potentiated by castration and by E2 treatment. Concentration-response curves for N-methyl-L-arginine and superoxide dismutase indicated that the tone-related release of NO increased in tissues from castrated, compared with intact rats, but was not affected by E2 treatment. Endothelium-dependent relaxation elicited by carbachol and histamine were not altered by castration and were attenuated by E2 in preparations from intact, but not from castrated rats. Moreover, aortic prostacyclin release dropped by about 40% after E2 treatment in tissues from both intact and castrated animals. Similarly, smooth muscle sensitivity to NO significantly decreased following castration and E2 treatment, as assessed by responses to sodium nitroprusside. Finally, no differences among groups were detected in platelet thromboxane A2 production. Thus, vascular responses in male rats were not improved by androgen deprivation alone or by E2 treatment, whose effects differed in the presence or absence of androgens. These findings provide evidence for the gender specificity of the vascular effects of estrogen and may be consistent with a beneficial role of physiologic levels of male sex hormones in arterial function.     

Influence of castration on the response of the rat vas deferens to fluoxetine.

Antidepressant drugs such as desipramine and fluoxetine increase norepinephrine (NE) contractile response in rat vas deferens by inhibiting neuronal amine uptake. Fluoxetine, unlike other antidepressants, also inhibits calcium fluxes, which results in an inhibition of maximal NE effect. Since the contractile response of the reproductive tract is under the influence of testosterone, the effect of fluoxetine could be modified according to the endocrine status of the animal. In the present study we evaluated the influence of castration and testosterone replacement (1 mg per 100 g body wt.) on the peripheral action of fluoxetine. Castration was followed by a decrease in vas deferens weight and the appearance of spontaneous activity. Testosterone replacement reversed these effects. Concentration-response curves to NE and calcium were obtained in the absence and the presence of fluoxetine in vasa deferentia from normal, castrated and testosterone-treated castrated rats. After castration the effect of fluoxetine on vas deferens contractility was markedly altered. The spontaneous activity that appears after castration was prevented by fluoxetine and the stimulatory effect on NE-induced contractions was not observed. In contrast, the inhibitory action of fluoxetine on maximal NE effect was increased. Testosterone replacement restored vas deferens response to NE in the presence of fluoxetine. Fluoxetine did not modify the binding parameters of [(3)H]prazosin in vasa deferentia from normal or castrated animals. Cocaine shifted the NE concentration-response curve to the left in all groups, suggesting that the changes in fluoxetine effect following castration were not the result of an alteration of the neuronal uptake mechanism. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor l-NMMA did not modify vas deferens response to NE in castrated animals either in the absence or presence of fluoxetine. An increased sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of fluoxetine was observed in the calcium concentration-response curves in vasa deferentia from castrated rats, an effect that was reversed by testosterone replacement. The results suggest that the alteration in the responsiveness of vasa deferentia from castrated rats to calcium could be responsible for increased sensitivity to the inhibitory effect of fluoxetine. It is concluded that vas deferens contractile response is testosterone dependent and that this behaviour modifies the effect of drugs such as fluoxetine that have dual effect on contractility.     

Analysis of the vascular reactivity of isolated and blood-perfused rabbit thoracic aortas with support rabbits

We have developed a new method for perfusing isolated and blood-perfused rabbit thoracic aortae by using conscious support rabbits. The vasoconstrictory and vasodilatory response to vasoactive substances were recorded as the decrease or the increase in intra-chamber pressure of the glass container in which the rabbit thoracic aorta was mounted. Examined were the vascular responses to dl-norepinephrine (NE) and l-isoproterenol (Iso) at different pressure loads to the vessel. NE produced a dose-dependent vasoconstriction which was effectively suppressed by i.v. phentolamine (3 mg/kg). In contrast, Iso produced beta-adrenoceptor-mediated vasodilations in a dose-dependent manner (dl-propranolol, 0.5 mg/kg, i.v.). The present experiments were performed at different pressure loads (pressure changes both in the vessel-mounted chamber and a Starling pneumatic resistance set connected in the way of a series circuit). Our newly developed system for perfusion of isolated vascular vessels with conscious support rabbits has some advantages over the existing methods for analysing vascular reactivity in terms of being perfused with arterial blood, having a simulated peripheral resistance apparatus in the circuit and showing a distinct vasodilatory response to i.a. Iso.     

Orchidectomy attenuates high‐salt diet‐induced increases in blood pressure,renovascular resistance,and hind limb vascular dysfunction: role of testosterone

Sex hormone‐dependent vascular reactivity is an underlying factor contributing to sex differences in salt‐dependent hypertension. This study evaluated the role of androgens (testosterone) in high salt‐induced increase in blood pressure (BP) and altered vascular reactivity in renal blood flow and perfused hind limb preparation. Weanling male rats (8 weeks old, 180–200 g) were bilaterally orchidectomised or sham operated with or without testosterone replacement (Sustanon 250, 10 mg/kg intramuscularly once in 3 weeks) and placed on a normal (0.3%) or high (4.0%) NaCl diet for 6 weeks. The high‐salt diet (HSD) increased arterial BP, renal vascular resistance (RVR) and positive fluid balance (FB). These changes were accompanied by decreased plasma nitric oxide levels. The increased BP, RVR and FB observed in the rats fed a HSD were reversed by orchidectomy while testosterone replacement prevented the reversal. Phenylephrine (PE)‐induced increased vascular resistance in the perfused hind limb vascular bed was enhanced by HSD, the enhanced vascular resistance was prevented by orchidectomy and testosterone replacement reversed orchidectomy effect. Vasorelaxation responses to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were impaired in HSD groups, orchidectomy attenuated the impairment, while testosterone replacement prevented the orchidectomy attenuation. These data suggested that eNOS‐dependent and independently‐mediated pathways were equally affected by HSD in vascular function impairment and this effect is testosterone‐dependent in male Sprague‐Dawley rats.     

对酚妥拉明降低肺动脉高压作用机制的探讨

应用大鼠离体肺动脉环标本，采用累积量效曲线方法．观察到应用野百合碱致肺动脉高压的大鼠离休肺动脉环对去甲肾上腺素、肾上腺素的反应性明显增强．其累积量效曲线较正常组明显平行左移．两组－ｌｇＥＣ５０差值经ｔ检验Ｐ＜０．０１；应用野百合碱致肺动脉高压．同时加用酚妥拉明预防治疗的大鼠离休肺动脉环对去甲肾上腺素、肾上腺素的反应性下降，其累积量效曲线较野百合碱组明显平行右移，两组间－ｌｇＥＣ５０差值经ｔ检验Ｐ＜０．０１．这些结果提示野百合碱引起的肺动脉高压可能与肺动脉血管壁对内源性儿茶酚胺类物质－去甲肾上腺素、肾上腺素的敏感性增强有关，而酚妥拉明降低肺动脉高压与肺动脉血管壁对内源性儿茶酚胺类物质的反应性降低有关。     

精氨酸加压素对失血性休克大鼠心肌收缩力的影响及与Rho激酶的关系

目的 探讨精氨酸加压素(AVP)对失血性休克大鼠心肌收缩力的影响及与Rho激酶的关系。方法 失血性休克大鼠的离体乳头肌分别用AVP 0.1 μmol·L^-1 和 Y-27632 10 μmol·L^-1预孵育,或Y-27632+AVP合用时,先用Y-27632 孵育10 min后,再加入AVP作用10 min。平衡30 min后依次用含异丙肾上腺素（Iso）1和10 μmol·L^-1, 0.1, 1, 10 mmol·L^-1的H-K液灌流乳头肌,观察加入Iso前后收缩力变化。制备离体心脏,稳定后,进行相应再灌流30 min,检测左心室收缩压（LVSP）和左心室压力上升或下降的最大速率（±dp/dt_max）。结果 失血性休克2 h,经Iso 0.1,1 及10 mmol·L^-1灌流后,离体乳头肌收缩力显著低于假手术组（P<0.05）,AVP 0.1 μmol·L^-1预孵育可明显升高乳头肌对心肌的收缩力;与休克模型组相比,在Iso 1和10 mmol·L^-1灌流后,乳头肌收缩力明显升高(P<0.05);Y-27632 10 μmol·L^-1离体乳头肌收缩力无明显影响,但Y-27632+AVP可明显降低由AVP引起的乳头肌收缩力的增加。失血性休克2 h后,离体心脏血流动力学指标明显降低,AVP可明显改善休克模型大鼠离体心脏的血流动力学指标,同时Y-27632可明显拮抗由AVP引起休克大鼠离体心脏血流动力学指标的增加。结论 AVP可改善失血性休克所致的心肌收缩力的降低,其机制与其激活Rho 激酶有关。     

Vascular reactivity to 5-hydroxytryptamine and hypertension in the rat

Summary Isolated perfused mesenteric artery preparations of genetic (Japanese strain), renal and DOCA/saline hypertensive rats showed a marked increase in reactivity to the vasoconstrictor effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) as compared with normotensive controls. In the arteries of the hypertensive animals, the threshold vasoconstrictor doses of 5-HT were lower, the 5-HT dose-response curves were steeper and their maxima were increased by a factor of 2.5–4.2. These observation only partially fit into the concept that increased vascular reactivity in hypertension is due to an increased wall/lumen ratio of the arterial blood vessels. Pressor responses to 5-HT were also higher in isolated perfused hindquarter and in pithed preparations from renal and DOCA/saline hypertensive rats but not in those from genetic hypertensive rats. In isolated perfused renal artery preparations, the reactivity to 5-HT was equal for normotensive and hypertensive (genetic and DOCA/saline) animals, indicating that not all arteries of hypertensive rats share the increased reactivity to 5-HT. Pretreatment with reserpine slightly reduced the reactivity to 5-HT in arteries from both hypertensive and normotensive rats. Non-vascular smooth muscle of DOCA/saline hypertensive rats, for which isolated gastric strips were used as an example, responded to 5-HT in the same way as that of normotensive rats. Methysergide blocked the pressor responses to 5-HT but did not influence the blood pressure of the hypertensive animals, thus questioning a causal relationship between the increased vascular reactivity to 5-HT and the maintenance of high blood pressure in these three types of experimental hypertension.Preliminary results have been presented at the 3rd Meeting of the Union of the Swiss Societies for Experimental Biology in Zurich (Haeusler and Finch, 1971).     

Sorafenib targets dysregulated Rho kinase expression and portal hypertension in rats with secondary biliary cirrhosis

Background and purpose

Extrahepatic vasodilation and increased intrahepatic vascular resistance represent attractive targets for the medical treatment of portal hypertension in liver cirrhosis. In both dysfunctions, dysregulation of the contraction-mediating Rho kinase plays an important role as it contributes to altered vasoconstrictor responsiveness. However, the mechanisms of vascular Rho kinase dysregulation in cirrhosis are insufficiently understood. They possibly involve mitogen-activated protein kinase/extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK)-dependent mechanisms in extrahepatic vessels. As the multikinase inhibitor sorafenib inhibits ERK, we tested the effect of sorafenib on haemodynamics and dysregulated vascular Rho kinase in rats with secondary biliary cirrhosis.

Experimental approach

Secondary biliary cirrhosis was induced by bile duct ligation (BDL). Sorafenib was given orally for 1 week (60 mg·kg⁻¹·d⁻¹). Messenger RNA levels were determined by quantitative real time polymerase chain reaction, protein expressions and protein phosphorylation by Western blot analysis. Aortic contractility was studied by myographic measurements, and intrahepatic vasoregulation by using livers perfused in situ. In vivo, haemodynamic parameters were assessed invasively in combination with coloured microspheres.

Key results

In BDL rats, treatment with sorafenib decreased portal pressure, paralleled by decreases in hepatic Rho kinase expression and Rho kinase-mediated intrahepatic vascular resistance. In aortas from BDL rats, sorafenib caused up-regulation of Rho kinase and an improvement of aortic contractility. By contrast, mesenteric Rho kinase remained unaffected by sorafenib.

Conclusions and implications

Intrahepatic dysregulation of vascular Rho kinase expression is controlled by sorafenib-sensitive mechanisms in rats with secondary biliary cirrhosis. Thus, sorafenib reduced portal pressure without affecting systemic blood pressure.     

Effect of glucocorticoids on vascular reactivity to vasoactive hormones in rat isolated kidney: lack of relationship to prostaglandins.

The relationship between the effects of glucocorticoids on renal vascular reactivity and prostaglandin synthesis elicited by noradrenaline (NA), angiotensin II (AII), arginine vasopressin (AVP) and bradykinin (Bk) was investigated in the isolated kidney of the rat perfused with Tyrode solution. Administration of NA 0.3-3.0 nmol, AII 0.028-0.28 nmol, AVP 0.027-0.27 nmol and Bk 0.28-2.8 nmol enhanced in a dose-dependent manner the renal output of immunoreactive prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and 6-keto-PGF1 alpha. NA, AII and AVP, but not Bk, produced renal vasoconstriction and increased perfusion pressure. In the presence of dexamethasone (2.6 X 10(-5)M) or corticosterone (2.9 X 10(-5) M), the effects of NA and AII, in enhancing prostaglandin synthesis and producing renal vasoconstriction, were reduced. In contrast, stimulation of prostaglandin synthesis by Bk and AVP and the renal vasoconstriction produced by AVP were not altered by the glucocorticoids. Dexamethasone or corticosterone did not alter the output of prostaglandins elicited by A-23187 or arachidonic acid (AA). Addition of mepacrine (2.1 X 10(-5)M) to the perfusion fluid reduced the renal output of prostaglandins elicited by the vasoactive hormones and by A-23187, but not by AA; the vasoconstrictor response to NA and AII, but not to AVP was reduced. In kidneys in which prostaglandin synthesis was inhibited by indomethacin (2.8 X 10(-6)M), administration of dexamethasone also reduced the renal vasoconstrictor effect of NA and AII. These data indicate that in Tyrode-perfused rat kidney the glucocorticoids dexamethasone and corticosterone exert a differential effect on the renal vascular reactivity to vasoactive hormones, and that their inhibitory effect on NA and AII-induced renal vasoconstriction appears to be unrelated to prostaglandin synthesis.     

Effects of benidipine, a long-lasting dihydropyridine-Ca2+ channel blocker, on cerebral blood flow autoregulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats

Chronic hypertension shifts cerebral blood flow (CBF) autoregulation towards higher blood pressure. We examined whether or not benidipine, a long-lasting dihydropyridine calcium channel blocker (CCB), improves the CBF autoregulation in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). CBF was analyzed by laser-Doppler flowmetry during stepwise hypotension by controlled bleeding. The lower limit of CBF autoregulation was calculated as the mean arterial blood pressure at which CBF decreased by 10% of the baseline. Mean arterial blood pressure and cerebral vascular resistance in SHRs were higher than those in normotensive Wistar rats. Oral administration of benidipine (3 mg/kg) for 8 d lowered the mean arterial blood pressure and cerebral vascular resistance, which were equivalent to the effects of amlodipine (3 mg/kg), another CCB, or candesartan (1 mg/kg), an Angiotensin II type-1 receptor blocker. The lower limit of CBF autoregulation in SHRs (142+/-4 mmHg) was significantly shifted to a higher-pressure level compared with Wistar rats (59+/-2 mmHg). The lower limit of CBF autoregulation was significantly lower in the benidipine-treated group (91+/-4 mmHg) than that in the control SHRs, and similar to that of the amlodipine group (97+/-6 mmHg). Benidipine reduced the lower limit of CBF autoregulation more effectively than candesartan (109+/-4 mmHg). In conclusion, benidipine shifted the limit of CBF autoregulation towards lower blood pressure in SHRs under hypotensive conditions by hemorrhage. These results suggest that benidipine may be useful for the treatment of hypertensive patients with the elderly or cerebrovascular disorders, in whom autoregulation of CBF is impaired.     

精氨酸加压素对失血性休克大鼠血管反应性的影响

目的探讨精氨酸加压素(AVP)对失血性休克大鼠血管反应性的影响,并初步探讨其与Rho激酶的关系。方法在体实验,观察大鼠失血性休克后AVP对去甲肾上腺素(NE)升压反应的影响;离体实验,测定失血性休克大鼠肠系膜上动脉(SMA)环对NE的收缩反应和去极化状态下(120mmol·L-1K+)对Ca2+的收缩反应,反映其对缩血管物质和钙的反应性。结果失血性休克(4kPa,2h)后大鼠对NE的升压反应显著下降。AVP0.1和0.4U·kg-1,iv,随后再将AVP溶于3倍失血量的复方氯化钠溶液分别以0.01和0.04U·kg-1·min-1的速度于30min内用输液泵输注,3～4h后可使NE的升压反应恢复至正常组水平。失血性休克后SMA对NE和钙的反应性显著下降,对NE和Ca2+的收缩反应量效曲线明显右移,最大反应(Emax)降低;加入NE和Ca2+前分别用0.5和5nmol·L-1AVP孵育10min可使NE和Ca2+的收缩反应量效曲线明显左移,Emax显著增高。Rho激酶拮抗剂HA1077预处理可部分取消AVP所致的Ca2+Emax变化,使Emax回降。结论AVP能升高失血性休克大鼠血管对NE的敏感性及反应效能和血管平滑肌对钙的反应效能。     

Hemodynamic effects of antagonists of the vasoconstrictor action of vasopressin in conscious dogs

Two antagonists of the pressor action of arginine-vasopressin (AVP) were studied in conscious, normally hydrated dogs: 1-deaminopenicillamine-4-valine-8-D-arginine-vasopressin, or dPVDAVP, and 1-(beta-mercapto-beta, beta-cyclopentamethylene propionic acid)2-(O-methyl)tyrosine arginine-vasopressin, or d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP. We first examined the hemodynamic effects of these antagonists when given alone. The infusion of dPVDAVP, 200 ng/kg/min, increased cardiac output (measured with an aortic electromagnetic flowmeter) by 23% and heart rate by 27%, leaving arterial pressure unchanged. Most of the change in cardiac output reflected a large increase in skeletal muscle blood flow, as determined by radioactive microspheres. The injection of d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP, 10 micrograms/kg, had little effect on cardiac output, arterial pressure, and heart rate. We then examined the ability of the two antagonists to block the hemodynamic responses to injections of AVP. In the absence of the antagonists, AVP induced dose-related increases in mean arterial pressure and total peripheral resistance, as well as decreases in heart rate and cardiac output. The antagonist dPVDAVP shifted the dose-response curves to the right without changing their slope. On the contrary, the hemodynamic response to AVP was strikingly modified following blockade with d(CH2)5Tyr(Me)AVP. Cardiac output and heart rate increased, whereas total peripheral resistance decreased, for doses of AVP between 25 and 400 ng/kg. It is concluded that some antagonists of the pressor action of vasopressin may influence hemodynamics of conscious dogs by effects other than competitive antagonism at the level of vascular receptors.     

Impaired arterial reactivity following cytomegalovirus infection in the immunosuppressed rat.

1. Cytomegalovirus (CMV) is a major pathogen in immunocompromised individuals and may participate in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis in the general population. We evaluated whether CMV-infection alters the function of arterial smooth muscle. 2. Blood pressure (BP) and arterial reactivity were recorded in immunosuppressed rats that had been infected with CMV (10(5) plaque forming units i.p.). Furthermore, the reactivity of isolated arteries was compared between CMV-infected rats and rats injected with bacterial endotoxin (LPS). 3. Initially resting BP and heart rate (HR) were not modified in CMV-infected rats, but baroreflex control of HR was impaired. By the eighth day post-CMV, BP dropped precipitously and could no longer be raised by phenylephrine (PHE). 4. In mesenteric resistance arteries, isolated at this stage from CMV-infected rats, contractile responses to nerve stimulation, noradrenaline, PHE and 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were virtually absent while those to high potassium and vasopressin (AVP) were not modified. In aortae of CMV-infected rats, responses to 5-HT and AVP were impaired while those to PHE or potassium were hardly affected. Reduced contractile responses could not be restored by NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). 5. Continuous treatment of CMV-infected rats with prazosin (0.1 mg kg-1 day-1) prevented blood pressure lowering and resistance artery changes. 6. Observations in arteries of LPS-treated rats (5-10 mg kg-1, i.p.) differed markedly from those in vessels of CMV-infected animals. The contractile reactivity of their mesenteric resistance arteries was not altered while in their aortae, responses to PHE, 5-HT and AVP were reduced. With the exception of the AVP responses, this was more pronounced in the presence of 1-arginine and reversed by L-NAME. 7. These findings indicate that CMV-infection results in a reduction of resistance artery reactivity and hypotonia. This seems not to involve cytokine-mediated induction of NO synthase in the vascular wall but may be due to alterations of excitation-contraction coupling in arterial smooth muscle in response to increased sympathetic nervous input.     

Inhibition of Ras-GTPase signaling by FPTIII ameliorates development of cardiovascular dysfunction in diabetic-hypertensive rats

We studied the effect an inhibitor of Ras-GTPase (FPTIII, 1.5 mg/kg alt diem for 4 weeks) on mean arterial pressure (MAP), urine protein, vascular reactivity and cardiac function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in control normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The increased urinary protein in STZ-treated WKY (D-WKY) and STZ-treated SHR (D-SHR) were significantly lower in FPTIII treated D-WKY and D-SHR. The abnormal vascular responsiveness to endothelin-1, angiotensin II, carbachol or histamine in isolated carotid artery from D-WKY and D-SHR was improved by chronic treatment with FPTIII. In isolated perfused hearts, recovery of left ventricular function from 40 min of global ischemia was significantly improved in FPTIII treated D-WKY and D-SHR. These results show that treatment with FPTIII can attenuate development of abnormal vascular reactivity and renal/cardiac dysfunction during simultaneous occurrence of hypertension and diabetes.     

Effect of testosterone replacement or duration of castration on baroreflex bradycardia in conscious rats

Background

In this study, we tested the hypothesis that 17β-estradiol contributes to testosterone-mediated restoration of baroreflex-mediated bradycardia in short-term (3 weeks) castrated rats. Further, a reported increase in serum testosterone after long-term (6 weeks) castration constituted a basis for testing the hypothesis that a spontaneous increase in serum testosterone or androstenedione in this model causes a commensurate increase in baroreflex-mediated bradycardia.

Results

Testosterone (1 week) replacement enhanced baroreflex-mediated bradycardia in short-term castrated rats without changing 17β-estradiol level. A spontaneous recovery of baroreflex-mediated bradycardia occurred following long-term castration, although circulating testosterone and androstenedione remained suppressed.

Conclusion

The data suggest: 1) 17β-Estradiol does not contribute to testosterone restoration of the baroreflex-mediated bradycardia in short-term castrated rats. 2) The long-term modulation of baroreflex-mediated bradycardia occurs independent of androgens, or the baroreflex mechanism may become adapted to low levels of circulating androgens.     

Inhibition of Ras-GTPase signaling by FPTIII ameliorates development of cardiovascular dysfunction in diabetic–hypertensive rats

We studied the effect an inhibitor of Ras-GTPase (FPTIII, 1.5 mg/kg alt diem for 4 weeks) on mean arterial pressure (MAP), urine protein, vascular reactivity and cardiac function in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in control normotensive (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). The increased urinary protein in STZ-treated WKY (D-WKY) and STZ-treated SHR (D-SHR) were significantly lower in FPTIII treated D-WKY and D-SHR. The abnormal vascular responsiveness to endothelin-1, angiotensin II, carbachol or histamine in isolated carotid artery from D-WKY and D-SHR was improved by chronic treatment with FPTIII. In isolated perfused hearts, recovery of left ventricular function from 40 min of global ischemia was significantly improved in FPTIII treated D-WKY and D-SHR. These results show that treatment with FPTIII can attenuate development of abnormal vascular reactivity and renal/cardiac dysfunction during simultaneous occurrence of hypertension and diabetes.     

Angiotensin II mediates pressure loading-induced mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in isolated rat aorta

Vascular hypertrophy occurs during chronic hypertension and contributes to the elevation of peripheral vascular resistance in hypertension. In this study, we examined whether acute pressure overloading of the vascular wall produces activation of mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinases, enzymes believed to be involved in the pathway for cell proliferation, in isolated perfused rat aortae, and examined whether the mechanical overloading-induced MAP kinase activation is mediated via the vascular angiotensin system. Aortae were perfused with Tyrode solution. Increases in perfusion pressure caused a pressure-dependent increase in MAP kinase activity in endothelium-intact aortae and in endothelium-denuded aortae. The increase in MAP kinase activity induced by pressure loading was inhibited by the angiotensin receptor antagonist, losartan, the renin inhibitor, pepstatin A, and the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor, captopril. Ca(2+) depletion and the Ca(2+) channel antagonist, nifedipine, did not affect the pressure loading-induced MAP kinase activation. The results of the present study suggest that pressure loading of the vascular wall per se can activate MAP kinases in the vasculature and that the MAP kinase activation is mediated at least partly via the vascular angiotensin system. It seems unlikely that the pressure loading-induced increase in MAP kinase activity is mainly mediated via increases in Ca(2+) influx in vascular cells.