多巴胺舒张猪冠状动脉及激活冠状动脉平滑肌细胞钾通道

采用血管环实验和膜片钳细胞贴附式技术分别在器官和细胞分子水平观察多巴胺舒张猪冠状动脉作用及对平滑肌细胞大电导型钙激活钾通道(BK_Ca)的影响. 结果表明多巴胺引起前列腺素F_2α(PGF_2α)预收缩动脉环浓度依赖性舒张反应, 而不引起高K⁺预收缩动脉环舒张反应. 表明多巴胺引起的冠状动脉血管舒张反应依赖于K⁺生理浓度梯度的存在, 结果提示钾通道参与了多巴胺的血管舒张反应. 向细胞浴液内灌流多巴胺增强冠状动脉血管平滑肌细胞膜BK_Ca通道活性. 用DA₁受体阻断剂SCH23390预处理细胞, 完全阻断多巴胺的这一作用, 而用β受体阻断剂普萘洛尔无影响. 提示多巴胺通过DA₁受体激活BK_Ca通道引起PGF_2α预收缩动脉环舒张反应.     

氯通道阻断剂对KCl、5-HT引起的兔脑椎基底动脉血管环收缩效应的影响

目的　探讨不同种类氯通道阻断剂在不同激动剂引起的脑血管平滑肌收缩反应中的作用。方法　记录离体兔脑椎基底动脉环收缩反应。结果　①氯通道阻断剂DIDS、Furosemide及NPPB均浓度依赖性抑制高K+ 及 5 HT引起血管环收缩反应 ,DIDS、Furosemide及NPPB对 5 HT引起收缩的抑制作用明显强于对KCl的作用 ;②在 5 HT引起血管收缩反应中 ,给予SK&F96 36 5引起血管最大舒张的基础上 ,DIDS、Furosemide及NPPB均可引起血管进一步舒张。结论　氯通道可能参与了由高K+ 去极化和 5 HT引起的兔脑椎基底动脉环收缩反应     

度洛西汀对大鼠胸主动脉环舒张功能的影响

目的研究度洛西汀(DLX)对血管舒张功能的影响并探讨其作用机制。方法采用离体血管环灌流装置,观察DLX对大鼠胸主动脉环的作用及不同工具药的影响。结果 DLX对KCl(30 mmol.L-1)和NE(1μmol.L-1)预收缩的血管环具有浓度依赖的舒张作用,对内皮完整和去内皮血管环舒张作用无差异,该舒张作用为非内皮依赖性。在KCl预收缩基础上,加入钾通道阻断剂格列苯脲Gli(10μmol.L-1)、四乙胺TEA(10 mmol.L-1)、氯化钡BaCl2(1 mmol.L-1)、四氨基吡啶4-AP(1 mmol.L-1)和5-HT2受体阻断剂赛庚啶(1μmol.L-1)均不能抑制DLX的舒血管效应;α1受体阻断剂哌唑嗪(1μmol.L-1)组对DLX舒血管作用有抑制作用。在无钙液中,DLX可以明显抑制NE和CaCl2收缩血管的作用。结论 DLX能够浓度依赖性的舒张血管,其机制可能与抑制经由血管平滑肌细胞膜VDC和ROC通道的钙离子内流,拮抗α1受体以及抑制胞质内钙离子释放有关。     

去甲肾上腺素和异丙肾上腺素对猪冠状动脉的舒张作用及机制研究

目的:研究去甲肾上腺素和异丙肾上腺素对冠状动脉环的舒张作用及其可能的作用途径。方法:采用离体实验方法,检测去甲肾上腺素和异丙肾上腺素对静息张力及氯化钾(KCl)预收缩冠状动脉的影响,研究两者对冠状动脉张力的作用及其可能的机制。结果:去甲肾上腺素和异丙肾上腺素对静息张力及KCl(40 mmol.L-1)预收缩冠状动脉环具有浓度依赖性舒张作用。去除内皮,用β受体阻断药普萘洛尔,β1受体抑制药阿替洛尔预处理后,均可明显减弱去甲肾上腺素和异丙肾上腺素诱导的舒张血管作用;用鸟苷酸环化酶抑制药亚甲蓝,一氧化氮合酶抑制药(L-NMMA),β2受体抑制药ICI-118551(10～5 mol.L-1)预处理后,血管舒张作用不能被阻断。α受体阻断药酚妥拉明预处理能增强去甲肾上腺素的舒张作用,对异丙肾上腺素引起的舒张无影响。结论:去甲肾上腺素和异丙肾上腺素是通过激活冠状动脉血管上的β受体(特别是β1受体)产生内皮依赖性的血管舒张作用,与NO-鸟苷酸环化酶途径无关。说明β肾上腺素能受体在猪冠状动脉血管平滑肌和血管内皮上有分布。     

三羟异黄酮对失血性休克大鼠肠系膜上动脉收缩反应性的影响

目的研究三羟异黄酮(genistein,GST)对失血性休克大鼠肠系膜上动脉收缩反应性的影响及其可能机制。方法建立大鼠失血性休克(3.9kPa,2h)模型。采用离体血管环张力测定实验,观察三羟异黄酮及酪氨酸蛋白磷酸酶抑制剂钒酸钠(sodiumorthovannadate,Na3VO4)对休克大鼠肠系膜上动脉血管收缩反应性的影响;采用细胞贴附式膜片钳记录技术,观察三羟异黄酮及钒酸钠对休克大鼠肠系膜上动脉平滑肌细胞大电导钙激活钾通道(largeconductancecalciumactivatedpotassiumchannel,BKCa)活动的影响。结果失血性休克导致大鼠肠系膜上动脉对去甲肾上腺素(noradrenine,NE)的收缩反应性降低,三羟异黄酮可在一定的剂量范围内明显改善失血性休克引起的血管低反应性;钒酸钠则可引起休克血管收缩反应性的进一步降低,且该作用可被0.1mmol·L-1TEA部分阻断;进一步的研究显示,失血性休克可引起大鼠肠系膜上动脉血管平滑肌细胞BKCa通道活动的增强,三羟异黄酮可抑制休克血管平滑肌细胞BKCa通道活动,且该作用可被钒酸钠逆转。结论三羟异黄酮可通过干预由PTK介导的酪氨酸蛋白磷酸化,防止失血性休克血管平滑肌细胞BKCa通道活动的增强,从而有效恢复失血性休克大鼠肠系膜上动脉对NE的收缩反应性。     

山楂水提取物对猪离体冠状动脉环的舒张作用研究

目的:研究山楂水提取物对猪离体冠状动脉环的舒张作用。方法:观察0.1、0.3、0.5mg·mL-1山楂水提取物对KC(l30mmol·L-1)诱发的猪离体冠状动脉环收缩的舒张作用。以Na+/Ca2+交换体阻滞剂KB-R7943(1×10-6mol·L-1)、电压依赖性钾通道(KV)阻滞剂四胺基吡啶(4-AP,1×10-3mol·L-1)、K+-ATP通道阻滞剂格列苯脲(Gli,1×10-5mol·L-1)、K+/Ca2+通道阻滞剂乙胺(TEA,1×10-2mol·L-1)、内向整流钾通道(KiR)阻滞剂氯化钡(BaCl2,1×10-3mol·L-1)预处理血管环,观察其对山楂水提取物舒血管作用的影响。结果:山楂水提取物对KCl预收缩的猪离体冠状动脉环产生浓度依赖性的舒张作用。用KB-R7943、4-AP、Gli预处理的血管环对山楂水提取物的舒张反应与未经处理时比较无显著性差异(P>0.05)。TEA和BaCl2预处理的血管环对山楂水提取物的舒张反应与未经处理时比较有显著性差异(P<0.01)。结论:山楂水提取物对KCl预收缩的猪离体冠状动脉环具有浓度依赖性的舒张作用,其舒张反应可能与K+/Ca2+通道和KiR通道有关,与Na+/Ca2+交换体、KV通道和K+-ATP通道无关。     

阿魏酸对离体大鼠冠状动脉的舒张作用及机制探讨

目的探讨阿魏酸(ferulic acid,FA)对离体大鼠冠状动脉的舒张作用及机制。方法采用微血管张力法,测定FA对静息及预收缩大鼠离体冠状动脉舒张作用;观察内皮对FA舒张作用的影响;探讨FA舒张作用与细胞外钙内流和内钙释放的关系;应用钙激活K~+通道(K_(Ca))阻断剂四乙胺(TEA)、ATP敏感K~+通道(K_(ATP))阻断剂格列苯脲(Gli)、内向整流K~+通道(KIR)阻断剂氯化钡(BaCl_2)、电压依赖性K~+通道(K_V)阻断剂4-氨基吡啶(4-AP)、NOS抑制剂L-硝基精氨酸甲酯(L-NAME)、环氧酶抑制剂吲哚美辛(Indo)等工具药,探究FA舒张大鼠离体冠状动脉的作用机制。结果 FA对大鼠离体冠状动脉静息张力无明显影响;浓度依赖性的舒张KCl(60 mmol·L~(-1))、U46619(1μmol·L~(-1))、PE(10μmol·L~(-1))预收缩的大鼠冠状动脉(P<0.05);内皮对FA舒张作用无明显影响(P>0.05);FA能够明显抑制外钙依赖性和内钙释放引起的血管收缩(P<0.05);4-AP(1mmol·L~(-1))能抑制FA的舒张作用,TEA、Gli、BaCl_2、LNAME、Indo无明显影响(P>0.05)。结论 FA对离体大鼠冠状动脉的舒张作用可能与血管平滑肌细胞上KV通道激活、细胞肌浆网内钙释放、外Ca~(2+)通道的阻滞有关,与K_(Ca)、K_(ATP)、K_(IR)通道无关,也不依赖于内皮功能。     

大电导钙激活钾通道对血管平滑肌的作用

大电导钙激活钾通道(BKCa)是血管平滑肌细胞膜电位的主要离子通道,在血管的舒缩及调节细胞功能方面发挥着重要的作用。BKCa通道的激活可使细胞膜发生超极化,从而抑制电压依赖性钙通道的激活及抑制钙离子内流,导致平滑肌舒张。近年来研究发现,BKCa通道的激活、失活和变异与多种疾病的发病有关,如BKCa对糖尿病、失血性休克、高血压、妊娠期高血压疾病等具有调控作用。     

新型抗高血压药物盐酸埃他卡林对小动脉的选择性扩张作用及其药理学机制

目的 :研究新型抗高血压药物盐酸埃他卡林(Ipt)对小动脉的作用特性及其药理学机制。方法 :采用大鼠尾动脉螺旋状血管条和主动脉离体血管环两种组织 ,对比观察盐酸埃他卡林对大、小动脉扩张作用的药理学特性 ,并且利用膜片钳技术观察盐酸埃他卡林对大鼠尾动脉平滑肌细胞钾电流的影响。结果 :Ipt在 1 0 - 7～ 1 0 - 3 mol·L- 1范围内对KCl预致收缩的大鼠尾动脉血管条产生剂量依赖性舒张反应 ,且具有部分内皮依赖性 ,但对主动脉离体血管环无明显的舒张反应 ,该作用在高血压状态时显著增强 ,能被ATP敏感性钾通道特异性阻断剂格列苯脲阻断 ,并且对大鼠尾动脉平滑肌细胞的钾电流具有显著增强作用。结论 :盐酸埃他卡林具有选择性舒张小动脉作用 ,具有ATP敏感性钾通道开放剂的主要药理学特征     

异丙肾上腺素及氨茶碱通过cAMP诱导的高电导Ca^2＋激活钾通道活化舒张支气管平滑肌

目的：探讨异丙肾上腺素(Iso)和氨茶碱(Ami)是否通过蛋白激酶A(PKA)通道激活高电导Ca^2 活化钾通道(BKCa)来舒张支气管平滑肌．方法：运用等长张力记录和穿孔膜片箝技术,观察Iso和Ami对大鼠离体支气管平滑肌细胞BKCa的作用以及PKA抑制剂Rp—cAMP对该效应的影响．结果：(1)Iso和Ami均可诱发甲酰胆碱预收缩的离体支气管产生浓度依赖性舒张反应,BKCa阻断剂四乙胺(TEA)5mmol/L使两者的量效曲线向右显著移位;(2)Iso 1 μmol/L显著增加方波刺激时(从-60mV到 50mV)平滑肌细胞BKCa电流,该效应可被Rp—cAMP l00μmol/L显著抑制,Iso使BKCa电流电压关系曲线向上移位．在斜坡刺激时(从-100mV到 100mV)亦获得类似结果;(3)Ami 1 mmol/L显著增加支气管平滑肌细胞在方波刺激时的BKCa电流,该效应被Rp—cAMP l00μmol/L显著抑制,Ami使BKCa电流电压关系曲线向上移位．在斜坡刺激时亦获得类似结果．结论：cAMP依赖性的气道舒张剂Iso和Ami对大鼠气道的舒张效应至少部分通过PKA的活化激活BKCa通道而实现的．     

Characterization of porcine coronary muscarinic receptors

Summary To determine the muscarinic receptor subtype involved in the contractile response of coronary smooth muscle, we investigated the profiles of various muscarinic receptor antagonists competing for [³H]N-methyl-scopolamine ([³H]NMS) binding to membrane preparations from porcine coronary arteries. [³H]NMS binds to a single population of muscarinic binding sites with a K_D of 135 pM and a B_max of 57 fmol/mg. The affinity profiles of AF-DX 116 [11-2((–((diethylamino)methyl)-1-piperidinyl)acetyl)-5,11-dihydro-6H-pyrido(2,3-b)(1,4)-benzodiazepin-6-one], atropine, 4-DAMP [4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methylpiperidine methiodide], methoctramine [N,N-bis (6-((2-methoxybenzyl) amino)hexyl)-1,8-octane-diamine tetrahydrochloride], HHSiD [hexahydrosiladi-fenidol] and pirenzepine are consistent with binding to a mixed population of muscarinic binding sites, namely of the M₂ and M₃ subtype.Binding curves for AF-DX 116 and methoctramine are shallow with Hill-coefficients significantly less than unity. Comparison of data from binding studies with results obtained in functional experiments, i.e. antagonism of methacholine induced contraction of porcine coronary artery rings, it was found that only the low-affinity pK_i values of AF-DX 116 (6.26) and methoctramine (6.51) correlated well with functional pA₂ values.It is concluded that a mixed population of the M₂ and M₃ muscarinic receptor subtypes is present in porcine coronary arteries. Functional experiments do not support the contribution of the M₂ subtype to the contractile response. Cholinergic induced contractions of porcine coronary arteries appear to be evoked via stimulation of the muscarinic M₃ receptor subtype. However, since the compounds investigated here do not markedly discriminate between cloned m₃, m₄ and m₅ receptors the involvement of muscarinic receptors different from M₁, M₂ and M₃ cannot be excluded. Send offprint requests to M. Entzeroth at the above address     

Muscarinic receptor subtype in porcine coronary artery

The specific binding of (-)-[³H]QNB (quinuclidinyl benzilate) in membrane fractions of porcine coronary artery was saturable, of high affinity and stereoselective. It has been shown that there exist (-)-[³H]QNB binding sites with high (K_i = 12 nM)- and low(K_i = 1010 nM)-affinity for pirenzepine in the coronary artery but predominantly low-affinity sites in cardiac muscle. AF-DX 116 and gallamine showed a lower affinity to ( - )-[³H]QNB binding sites in the coronary artery compared to cardiac muscle. Thus, the present study suggests that porcine coronary artery contains a significant number of muscarinic receptors, probably both M₁ and M₂ subtypes.     

Interactions of sildenafil with various coronary vasodilators in isolated porcine coronary artery

There are reports of serious hypotension or circulatory shock when sildenafil citrate, a selective cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase type 5 inhibitor, which was developed for the treatment of erectile dysfunction, is given to patients taking certain coronary vasodilators. We thus examined the interaction of sildenafil with various coronary vasodilators including nitric oxide (NO) donors in isolated porcine coronary artery. Sildenafil caused concentration-dependent relaxations of the artery precontracted with U46619 (9,11-dideoxy-9 alpha,11 alpha-methanoepoxy-prostaglandin F(2alpha)). Incubation with the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine or the soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor ODQ (1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-alpha]quinoxalin-1-one) significantly shifted the concentration-response curve for sildenafil to the right without affecting the maximum response, indicating that some part of the relaxant response to sildenafil may be the result of the inhibition of phosphodiestrase type 5-induced degradation of cyclic GMP (cGMP) that is produced through guanylate cyclase activation by NO released spontaneously. The relaxant effects of the vasodilators with an NO donor property, isosorbide dinitrate, sodium nitroprusside, nicorandil and nipradilol, were significantly enhanced by sildenafil, as shown by a significant leftward shift of their concentration-response curves. In contrast, the relaxant responses to the drugs without a property as an NO donor, diltiazem, celiprolol and pinacidil, were not affected by sildenafil. The cGMP level of the tissue was elevated after adding sildenafil, and the cGMP-generating effect of a combination of sildenafil and sodium nitroprusside was higher than that of each drug alone. The cyclic AMP level determined simultaneously was not changed by sildenafil. These results suggest that sildenafil potentiates specifically the relaxant responses of porcine coronary artery to the drugs which behave as an NO donor, providing basic evidence that the benefit of sildenafil in the treatment of erectile dysfunction can be limited by a risk of marked vasodilation when used together with NO-related coronary vasodilators.     

Dietary trace amine-dependent vasoconstriction in porcine coronary artery

Background and purpose:

The dietary trace amines tyramine and β-phenylethylamine (β-PEA) can increase blood pressure. However, the mechanisms involved in the vascular effect of trace amines have not been fully established. The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether trace amine-dependent vasoconstriction was brought about by tyramine and β-PEA acting as indirect sympathomimetic agents, as previously assumed, or whether trace amine-dependent vasoconstriction could be mediated by recently discovered trace amine-associated (TAA) receptors.

Experimental approach:

The responses to p-tyramine and β-PEA were investigated in vitro in rings of the left anterior descending coronary arteries of pigs.

Key results:

p-Tyramine induced a concentration-dependent (0.1–3 mM) vasoconstriction. The maximum response and pD₂ value for p-tyramine was unaffected by endothelium removal or pre-treatment with antagonists for adrenoceptors, histamine, dopamine or 5-HT receptors. β-PEA also produced a concentration-dependent (0.3–10 mM) vasoconstriction which was unaffected by endothelium removal, β-adrenoceptor or 5-HT receptor antagonists. A substantial, but reduced, response to β-PEA was obtained in the presence of prazosin (α₁-adrenoceptor antagonist), haloperidol (D₂/D₃ dopamine receptor antagonist) or mepyramine (H₁ histamine receptor antagonist). The pD₂ value for β-PEA was unaffected by any of the antagonists tested.

Conclusions and implications:

Vasoconstriction induced by p-tyramine does not involve an indirect sympathomimetic effect, although vasoconstriction caused by β-PEA may occur, in part, by this mechanism. We therefore propose that trace amine-dependent vasoconstriction is mediated by phenylethylamine-specific receptors, which are closely related to or identical to TAA receptors. These receptors could provide a target for new antihypertensive therapies.     

Endothelium-independent relaxation to raloxifene in porcine coronary artery

Although the vascular action of raloxifene has been studied in several vascular beds, the underlying mechanisms are still incompletely understood. The role of endothelium in raloxifene-induced vascular responses was controversial. The present study was designed to examine endothelium-independent effects of raloxifene in isolated porcine left circumflex coronary arteries. Arterial rings were suspended in organ baths and changes in isometric tension were measured. The large-conductance Ca2+-activated K+(BK(Ca)) currents were recorded using a whole-cell patch-clamp technique. Treatment with raloxifene (1-10 micromol/l) reduced the contractions to 9,11-dideoxy-11alpha,9alpha-epoxy-methanoprostaglandin F2alpha (U46619), serotonin (5-HT), endothelin-1 in normal Krebs solution and to CaCl2 in a Ca2+-free, high K+-containing solution. In endothelin-1-contracted rings, raloxifene (0.3 to 50 micromol/l) caused relaxations which were comparable in rings with and without endothelium. The raloxifene-induced relaxation was reduced by putative K+ channel blockers, iberiotoxin and tetraethyl ammonium chloride (TEA+) in rings with and without endothelium, or by elevated extracellular K+ ions (30 mmol/l K+ and 60 mmol/l K+). 13-methyl-7-[9-(4,4,5,5,5-pentafluoropentylsulfinyl)nonyl]-7,8,9,11,12,13,14,15,16, 17-decahydro-6H-cyclopenta[a] phenanthrene-3,17-diol (ICI 182,780) did not affect raloxifene-induced relaxation. Raloxifene enhanced the outward BK(Ca) currents, which were sensitive to inhibition by iberiotoxin. In summary, the present study shows that raloxifene acutely relaxes porcine coronary arteries via an endothelium-independent mechanism without involving the ICI 182,780-sensitive estrogen receptors. Raloxifene mainly acts on the vascular smooth muscle cells to induce vasorelaxation by the inhibition of Ca2+ channels and the activation of BK(Ca) channels. The former mechanism appears to play a more significant role.     

Vasorelaxation induced by L-glutamate in porcine coronary arteries

Isolated porcine coronary arteries (PCA) contracted by depolarization with high K0 or by histamine (10 microM) were relaxed concentration-dependently by glutamic acid, aspartic acid, N-methyl-D-aspartate (NMDA) and, gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA). In the PCA preparations contracted by high K0 or histamine the effects were monophasic, but the histamine-induced effects were more sustained and of larger amplitude. The ED50 values of cumulative concentration-response (CCR) curves obtained for the relaxation induced by L-glutamate in histamine-stimulated PCA preparations were shifted from 0.8 mM to 0.25 microM in presence of 1 mM glycine, a co-agonist required for the activation of NMDA receptors. The relaxations resulting from low-affinity binding of L-glutamic were dependent on Ca0 as evidenced by the shift of CCR curves to the right in the presence of 5-100 mM K0. In contrast, CCR curves obtained for contractions induced by NaF (1.5-12 mM), were significantly shifted to the left (from 6.3 to 3.1 mM). A depression of the maximum effect observed at higher F- concentrations was reversed by addition of 5 mM Mg0. Data show that glutamate induces a vasorelaxation that may be associated with symptoms seen in Chinese restaurant syndrome.     

Effects of endothelin on porcine coronary arterial strips

Endothelin, a novel endothelium derived 21-residue vasoconstrictor peptide synthesized by Peninsula Laboratories, provoked a concentration-dependent contraction of porcine coronary arterial strips. EC50 value for endothelin was 14 +/- SD 4 nmol/L (n = 6), and significantly lower than the values for 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT, 0.28 +/- 0.07 mumol/L, n = 6) and 15-methyl-prostaglandin F2 alpha (15-methyl-PGF2 alpha, 4 +/- 3 mumol/L, n = 7). The maximal increase in tension caused by endothelin was 5.4 +/- 1.1 g, being much greater than that induced by 5-HT (3.7 +/- 0.8 g, P less than 0.05) and 15-methyl-PGF2 alpha (3.7 +/- 0.6 g, P less than 0.01). The changes in tension provoked by endothelin (2-20 nmol/L) were attenuated significantly after pretreated with tetrodotoxin (TTX, 30 mumol/L, P less than 0.05 or 0.01). The results suggest that endothelin is one of the most potent vasoconstrictive agents, and its action is partially related to voltage-sensitive Na+ channel in the cell membrane.     

Effects of palytoxin on porcine coronary artery rings.

Palytoxin, in concentrations as low as 100 fM, caused contractions of porcine coronary artery rings. Palytoxin concentrations of less than 1 nM caused slowly developing contractions which were not maximal even after 2 h. Rings contracted by 100 nM palytoxin achieved maximal tension by 10 min and relaxed to 53% of that maximum after 2 h. Verapamil (1 microM) reduced the rate of contractions induced by 10 nM palytoxin. Exposure of rings to greater than 10 nM palytoxin for 1-2 h reduced contractions to potassium 18 h later to 61% of the expected contraction and abolished those to palytoxin administered later. Both 10 and 100 nM palytoxin depleted potassium from coronary artery rings. Verapamil (10 microM) prevented potassium depletion by 10 nM palytoxin, but neither 10 microM verapamil nor 1 microM nifedipine prevented potassium depletion in rings exposed to 100 nM palytoxin. Thus, the contractile action and the potassium depleting action of palytoxin on the porcine coronary artery involve mobilization of nifedipine- and verapamil-sensitive calcium. Verapamil- and nifedipine-sensitive calcium was not required for depletion of potassium by the highest PTX concentration (100 nM), however.     

Relaxant effect of trans-resveratrol on isolated porcine coronary arteries

Recent studies provided evidence that trans-resveratrol (3,4',5-trihydroxystilbene, found in high concentrations in some red wines, may possibly decrease the risk of coronary heart disease mortality. The aim of this study, performed with large epicardial porcine coronary arteries (PCA) strips, was to investigate the relaxant effect of trans-resveratrol on these main conductance vessels, which have been described to be pathologically prone for vasospastic contractions. The data show that the tonic component of the biphasic contractions induced by histamine, as well as the contractions induced by F- ions (10 mmol/l), which activate G proteins downstream of the receptors, could dose-dependently be inhibited by trans-resveratrol (0.1-100 mumol/l). The EC50 values of the dose-response curves established for the inhibition of the sustained component of histamine-induced contractions were very similar to those obtained for the relaxations of fluoride-induced contractions: 0.45 +/- 0.08 and 0.29 +/- 0.05 mumol/l, resp. (n = 6). Ouabain (10 mumol/l)-induced contractions and rhythmic contractions elicited by tetraethylammonium (12 mmol/l) were also strongly inhibited by trans-resveratrol (20 mumol/l). It may be inferred from the results obtained in this study, that the relaxation of the coronary conductance vessels induced by trans-resveratrol is possibly based on a nongenomic interaction with steroid-like receptors located on the cell membrane.