Mode of action of sodium nitroprusside on vascular smooth muscle

1. Sodium nitroprusside is a potent relaxant of smooth muscles with a predominantly tonic response, e.g. rat aorta contracted by noradrenaline, angiotensin II, Phe2-Lys8-vasopressin, BaC1(2), or KC1, and guinea-pig tracheal smooth muscle contracted by carbachol. 2. Smooth muscle preparations from the splanchnic region and with varying degrees of phasic contractility are less sensitive and develop tachyphylaxis (portal vein, duodenum of the rat) or are unresponsive to sodium nitroprusside (vas deferens, uterus of the rat). 3. Cardiac auricles of the guinea pig are not affected by sodium nitroprusside in either frequency or amplitude or spontaneous contractions. 4. Sdium nitroprusside causes a parallel shift of the dose-response curve of rat aorta to noradrenaline to the right and reduces the maximum response. 5. The drug has no blocking or stimulant effect on alpha- or beta-adrenoceptors, respectively. 6. Sodium nitroprusside inhibits the contractile response of calcium-depleted depolarized rat aorta to extra-cellular calcium. Like verapamil, it inhibits the increment in 45calcium uptake of rabbit aorta elicited by K+. Sodium nitroprusside significantly reduced 45calcium binding by microsomes prepared from rabbit aorta. 7. Rabbit aorta was incubated with lanthanum chloride to prevent calcium influx; sodium nitroprusside reduced the maintained rapid contraction phase in response to noradrenaline which is believed to be based on the intracellular activation of calcium. 8. In rat aorta, cellular cAMP and ATP levels were not found to be affected by the drug. 9. Rabbit aorta, "skinned" by glycerination is unresponsive to sdoium nitroprusside. 10. It is concluded that sodium nitropruside acts on exictation-contraction coupling predominantly in tonic smooth muscle by interfering with both the influx and the intracellular activation of calcium.     

小檗胺对ROCC介导的血管平滑肌细胞内游离钙的影响

目的　研究小檗胺 (BA)对受体调控性Ca2 +通道介导的家兔胸主动脉血管平滑肌细胞内游离钙 ([Ca2 +]i)的影响。方法　家兔主动脉血管平滑肌以Fluo 3/AM负载 ,通过激光扫描共聚焦显微镜 (LSCM )测定 [Ca2 +]i。结果　在细胞外Ca2 +存在的条件下 ,BA 30 μmol·L-1不影响静息[Ca2 +]i;但对去甲肾上腺素 (NE) 30mmol·L-1、5 羟色胺 (5 HT) 1μmol·L-1诱导的 [Ca2 +]i 升高有明显的抑制作用。在无胞外钙时 ,对咖啡因 40mmol·L-1诱导的 [Ca2 +]i 升高没有作用。结论　BA对ROCC激活后的外钙内流有明显的抑制作用 ,对内钙释放没有影响。其作用与维拉帕米相似     

Effects of cyclopiazonic acid and ryanodine on cytosolic calcium and contraction in vascular smooth muscle.

1. In smooth muscle, both Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) and Ca2+ influx across the plasma membrane are responsible for the increase in the cytosolic Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i). To understand further the role of SR on smooth muscle contraction, the effects of an inhibitor of the SR Ca2+ pump, cyclopiazonic acid (CPA 10 microM), an inhibitor of the Ca(2+) -induced Ca2+ release, ryanodine, (10 microM), and an activator of the Ca(2+) -induced Ca2+ release, caffeine (20 mM), on [Ca2+]i and contractile force were examined in the ferret portal vein loaded with a photoprotein, aequorin. 2. CPA induced a small increase in the aequorin signal reaching a maximum at 7 min. Several minutes after the increase in the aequorin signal, muscle tension increased reaching a maximum at 21.5 min. In contrast, ryanodine changed neither the aequorin signal nor contraction. In the presence of ryanodine, caffeine induced a sustained increase in the aequorin signal and transient contraction. After washing ryanodine and caffeine, the aequorin signal and muscle tone returned to their respective control levels. After treatment with ryanodine and caffeine, the second addition of caffeine was almost ineffective whereas CPA still increased the aequorin signal and muscle tension. 3. In the presence of external Ca2+, noradrenaline (NA, 10 microM) induced a transient increase followed by a sustained increase in the aequorin signal and sustained contraction. In contrast, KCl (70 mM) induced sustained increases in the aequorin signal and sustained contraction. In Ca(2+) -free solution, NA induced a small transient increase in the aequorin signal and a small transient contraction. These changes were inhibited in the presence of CPA or on pretreatment of the muscle with ryanodine and caffeine. These results suggest that CPA or ryanodine and caffeine depleted Ca2+ in SR. High K+ was ineffective in the absence of external Ca2+. 4. In the presence of external Ca2+ and CPA, NA and high K+ induced larger aequorin signals than in the absence of CPA, whereas the magnitude and shape of the contractions did not change. In contrast, pretreatment with ryanodine and caffeine did not have such an effect. In the muscle pretreated with ryanodine and caffeine, CPA changed the responses to high K+ and NA in a similar manner to that in the muscle without the pretreatment with ryanodine and caffeine. 5. Dissociation of contraction from [Ca2+]i as measured with aequorin suggests that NA and high K+ increase Ca2+ in two compartments: a compartment containing contractile elements (contractile compartment) and another compartment unrelated to contractile elements (non-contractile compartment). Because CPA augmented the stimulant-induced increase in aequorin signal without changing contraction, the non-contractile compartment may be located near the SR and the CPA-sensitive SR Ca2+ pump may regulate the Ca2+ level in this compartment. However, because CPA changed neither the magnitude nor shape of the contractions in the presence of external Ca2+, the SR Ca2+ pump may have little effect on regulation of Ca2+ level in the contractile compartment. Furthermore, the release of Ca2+ from SR seems to have little effect on the increase in the contractile Ca2+ because ryanodine and caffeine changed neither the aequorin signals nor contractions induced by NA and high K+ in the presence of external Ca2+ in the ferret portal vein.     

Interactions of iloprost and sodium nitroprusside on vascular smooth muscle and platelet aggregation.

1. The aim of the study was to assess and quantify any synergism occurring between the stable analogues of prostacyclin (iloprost) and nitric oxide (sodium nitroprusside) with respect to both relaxation of vascular smooth muscle and inhibition of platelet aggregation in the rabbit. 2. Iloprost (0.3-3 ng ml-1) and sodium nitroprusside (0.3-3 ng ml-1) caused dose-dependent relaxation of the rabbit mesenteric and coeliac arteries. 3. Iloprost (0.3-30 ng ml-1) and sodium nitroprusside (0.03-30 micrograms ml-1) caused dose-dependent inhibition of rabbit platelet aggregation induced by adenosine diphosphate or collagen. 4. In combination, iloprost and sodium nitroprusside caused an inhibition of platelet aggregation that was 2-3 fold greater than would be expected by summation, while no such potentiation was observed on vascular smooth muscle. 5. Thus, our results indicate that under physiological conditions the mediators prostacyclin and endothelium-derived relaxing factor (NO) can exert a synergistic action on platelets, but have only an additive effect on vascular smooth muscle.     

Resveratrol decreases calcium sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle and enhances cytosolic calcium increase in endothelium

Resveratrol causes endothelium dependent and independent relaxation of vascular smooth muscle. This study investigated the mechanisms behind the effect of resveratrol on vascular tone. Resveratrol (0.1 mM) inhibited KCl-stimulated contractions in endothelium-denuded rat aorta and this inhibition was not reversed by tetraethylammonium (TEA) (5 mM), glyburide (3 microM), ouabain (0.1 mM), thapsigargin (1 microM), or indomethacin (10 microM). KCl (90 mM) increased the intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i) in the isolated smooth muscle cells from the rat aorta and resveratrol (0.1 mM) did not inhibit the KCl-stimulated [Ca2+]i increase. The CaCl2 (0.1-100 microM) stimulated contractions were inhibited by resveratrol (0.1 mM) in the Triton X-100 skinned smooth muscle of the aorta. In heart valve endothelium, resveratrol (0.1 mM) augmented the acetylcholine (10 microM) stimulated [Ca2+]i increase. Resveratrol-induced augmentation of the acetylcholine-stimulated [Ca2+]i elevation was reversed by glyburide (3 microM), but not by TEA (5 mM). The present study indicated that resveratrol affected vascular smooth muscle and endothelium in different ways. Resveratrol decreased the Ca2+ sensitivity but did not affect the KCl-stimulated [Ca2+]i increase in the vascular smooth muscle. In the endothelial cells, resveratrol enhanced the agonist-stimulated [Ca2+]i increase that might trigger nitric oxide synthesis from endothelial cells.     

Effects of sodium selenite on vascular smooth muscle reactivity.

The effects of sodium selenite (Na(2)SeO(3)) on the vascular smooth muscle reactivity of rabbit aorta were studied. In isolated rabbit aorta, Na(2)SeO(3) inhibited contractile response to phenylephrine and developed a lasting contracture in the vascular tissue. Relaxation in phenylephrine-precontracted aortic rings induced by sodium nitroprusside and 8-bromo-guanosine 3':5'-cyclic-monophosphate was also inhibited. Preliminary data obtained with ascorbic acid suggested a partial involvement of an oxidative mechanism. Excluding the possibility that Se damages actin or modifies its distribution (immunohistochemical evaluation), results indicate that Se alters vascular smooth muscle reactivity by inhibiting both its contracting and relaxing properties. Calcium-dependent mechanisms appear to be primarily involved and an interference with calcium re-uptake by sarcoplasmic reticulum as a possible site of Se vascular action could be hypothesized.     

Effects of endothelin on the mechanical activity and cytosolic calcium level of various types of smooth muscle.

1. Effects of porcine/human endothelin (endothelin-1), a novel vasoconstrictor peptide, on various smooth muscles were examined. 2. In rat aorta, endothelin (1 pM-30nM) induced contraction in a concentration-dependent manner. Removal of endothelium shifted the concentration-response curve to the left. When added during the sustained contraction induced by 0.1 microM noradrenaline, endothelin (1 nM) induced a relaxation that was inhibited by removing endothelium or by methylene blue. 3. In rat aorta without endothelium, endothelin (1-30 nM) increased cytosolic Ca2+ level [( Ca2+]cyt) followed by contraction. Endothelin induced less contraction than high K+ at a given [Ca2+] cyt when the concentration of endothelin was lower (1-3nm) and/or during the early phase of the contraction (less than 10 min). In contrast, endothelin induced a greater contraction than KCl after prolonged exposure to high concentrations (greater than 10 nM). 4. The increase in [Ca2+]cyt due to endothelin was strongly inhibited by 10 microM verapamil or 0.3 microM nicardipine although muscle contraction was only partially inhibited. 5.In Ca2+ -free solution, endothelin (30 nM) induced a transient increase in [Ca2+] cyt and a slow increase in muscle tension. After a prolonged incubation in Ca2+-free solution, endothelin (30 nM) still induced a slow increase in tension without changing [Ca2+]cyt. This contraction was inhibited by 1 microM sodium nitropusside or 10 microM forskolin. 6. In canine trachea and guinea-pig uterus, endothelin (30 nM) induced sustained contraction with an increase in [Ca2+]cyt. In the absence of external Ca2+, endothelin (30 nM) induced a sustained contraction in canine trachea without changing [Ca2+]cyt. In guinea-pig vas deferens, taenia caeci and ileal longitudinal muscle, endothelin induced small increases in [Ca2+]cyt and tension. 7. In permeabilized smooth muscles, endothelin (30 nM) did not change the muscle tone. 8. These results suggest that endothelin acts on the endothelium and increases the synthesis or release of endothelin-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). These results also suggest that endothelin acts directly on smooth muscle and increases [Ca2+]cyt by releasing Ca2+ from sites and increasing Ca2+ influx through the verapamil- and 1,4-dihydropyridine-sensitive pathway. Endothelin seems to decrease Ca2+ -sensitivity of contractile elements at lower concentrations and/or during the early phase of the contraction, whereas it increases Ca2+ -sensitivity at higher concentrations during the sustained phase of the contraction. Furthermore, endothelin induces a contraction that is not dependent on [Ca2+]cyt.     

左旋千金藤定碱对培养牛主动脉血管平滑肌细胞胞内游离Ca~(2+)的影响

目的：研究左旋千金藤定碱（ｌ－ｓｔｅｐｈｏｌｉｄｉｎｅ，ＳＰＤ）对血管平滑肌的作用。方法：采用Ｆｕｒａ－２和ＡＲ－ＣＭ－ＭＩＣ阳离子测定系统测定培养牛主动脉血管平滑肌细胞内游离钙。结果：ＳＰＤ１～１００μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１不影响静息［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ，但可剂量依赖地抑制高Ｋ＋引起的［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ增高，其ＩＣ５０为３９．６（９５％可信限２３．４～６７．１）μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１，但其作用弱于尼群地平；ＳＰＤ１～１００μｍｏｌ·Ｌ－１对去甲肾上腺素、血管紧张素Ⅱ、５－ＨＴ、ＡＴＰ引起的［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ增高也有明显的抑制作用；高浓度ＳＰＤ对无外钙时去甲肾上腺素引起的［Ｃａ２＋］ｉ增高也有一定的抑制作用。结论：左旋千金藤定碱对培养血管平滑肌细胞电压依赖性钙通道和受体调控性钙通道均有抑制作用；其对电压依赖性钙通道的抑制作用弱于尼群地平。     

Store-operated calcium entry in vascular smooth muscle

In non-excitable cells, activation of G-protein-coupled phospholipase C (PLC)-linked receptors causes the release of Ca(2+) from intracellular stores, which is followed by transmembrane Ca(2+) entry. This Ca(2+) entry underlies a small and sustained phase of the cellular [Ca(2+)](i) increases and is important for several cellular functions including gene expression, secretion and cell proliferation. This form of transmembrane Ca(2+) entry is supported by agonist-activated Ca(2+)-permeable ion channels that are activated by store depletion and is referred to as store-operated Ca(2+) entry (SOCE) and represents a major pathway for agonist-induced Ca(2+) entry. In excitable cells such as smooth muscle cells, Ca(2+) entry mechanisms responsible for sustained cellular activation are normally considered to be mediated via either voltage-operated or receptor-operated Ca(2+) channels. Although SOCE occurs following agonist activation of smooth muscle, this was thought to be more important in replenishing Ca(2+) stores rather than acting as a source of activator Ca(2+) for the contractile process. This review summarizes our current knowledge of SOCE as a regulator of vascular smooth muscle tone and discusses its possible role in the cardiovascular function and disease. We propose a possible hypothesis for its activation and suggest that SOCE may represent a novel target for pharmacological therapeutic intervention.     

Effects of isoquinoline derivatives, HA1077 and H-7, on cytosolic Ca level and contraction in vascular smooth muscle

The effects of isoquinoline derivatives, HA1077 (1-[5-isoquinolinesulfonyl]-homopiperazine) and H-7 (1-[5-isoquinoline-sulfonyl]-2-methylpiperazine), on cytosolic Ca²⁺ levels ([Ca²⁺]_i) and muscle tension were examined in vascular smooth muscle of rat aorta. High K⁺ (72.7 mM) and norepinephrine (1 μM) induced a sustained contraction with a sustained increase in [Ca²⁺]_i. HA1077 and H-7 (3–10 μM) inhibited the increse in muscle tension more strongly than the increase in [Ca²⁺]_i. Verapamil (10 μM) completely inhibited the increase in [Ca²⁺]_i and the contraction induced by K⁺ whereas it inhibited the increase in [Ca²⁺]_i more strongly than the contraction due to norepinephrine. The verapamil-insensitive portion of the norepinephrine-induced contraction was inhibited by HA1077 or H-7. In Ca²⁺-free solution, 0.1 μM norepinephrine induced a transient increase in [Ca²⁺]_i and muscle tension. The transient contraction was inhibited by 10 μM HA1077 or 10 μM H-7 without inhibiting the increase in [Ca²⁺]_i. 12-Deoxyphorbol 13-isobutyrate (DPB) (1 μM) caused a sustained contraction, and this contraction was inhibited by HA1077 and H-7 at similar concentrations needed to inhibit the contractions induced by high K⁺ or norepinephrine. In rabbit mesenteric artery permeabilized with Staphylococcus aureus -toxin, 100 μM HA1077 and 100 μM H-7 inhibited the contraction induced by 0.3 μM Ca²⁺. These results suggest that the inhibitory effects of isoquinoline derivatives, HA1077 and H-7, are due to a decrease in [Ca²⁺]_i and in the Ca²⁺ sensitivity of contractile elemenst in vascular smooth muscle.     

Age-related changes in the sensitivity to verapamil and sodium nitroprusside of vascular smooth muscle of rabbit aorta.

Age-related changes in the sensitivity to verapamil and sodium nitroprusside were examined in isolated aortic strips of the rabbit. In the aortae of newborn rabbits within 10 days of birth, the resting tone of the muscle was strongly reduced by sodium nitroprusside but not by either Ca-deficient solution or by verapamil. High K-induced contraction and noradrenaline-induced contraction were both inhibited by verapamil or sodium nitroprusside. In the aortae of 24 day-old rabbits, resting tension was slightly reduced by sodium nitroprusside but not by verapamil. High K-induced contraction was less sensitive to sodium nitroprusside than to verapamil whereas noradrenaline-induced contraction was less sensitive to verapamil than to sodium nitroprusside. In the aortae isolated from 60 day-old or older rabbits, resting tension was not affected by either sodium nitroprusside or verapamil. High K-induced contraction was inhibited by verapamil whereas sodium nitroprusside showed only a weak inhibitory effect. Noradrenaline-induced contraction was inhibited by sodium nitroprusside although verapamil had only a slight inhibitory effect. In the aortae of 1 day-old and also in adult rabbits, noradrenaline induced an additional increase in muscle tension when applied during the sustained contraction induced by high K. It is suggested that, in the newborn rabbit aorta, the voltage-dependent Ca channel is sensitive to both verapamil and sodium nitroprusside and the sensitivity to sodium nitroprusside gradually decreases during maturation whereas the receptor-linked Ca channel is also sensitive to both of the inhibitors at birth but the sensitivity to verapamil gradually decreases with age.     

Effects of capsaicin on vascular smooth muscle

Acute administration of capsaicin in vitro produced either vascular smooth muscle contraction (cat middle cerebral artery) or smooth muscle relaxation (guinea pig carotid artery and thoracic aorta). Prior in vivo treatment with capsaicin abolished the relaxation response of guinea pig vessels to acute capsaicin. Instead a contractile response was seen after chronic capsaicin treatment, suggesting that the relaxation response produced by capsaicin is due to release of a vasodilator substance. Substance P caused relaxation in both cat cerebral arteries and the guinea pig thoracic aorta, an effect which was abolished or reduced by endothelial damage. However, responses to acute capsaicin were not altered by endothelial damage, suggesting that substance P does not mediate the relaxation response to acute capsaicin administration. Exposure to capsaicin in vitro did not affect the neurogenic vasodilator response of cat cerebral arteries and did not alter substance P levels. Therefore, it was concluded that the acute effect of capsaicin is composed of two components. A contractile response is most likely due to direct effects on vascular smooth muscle, while a relaxation response is attributed to release of an as yet unidentified bioactive substance distinct from substance P.     

Effects of pindolol on vascular smooth muscle

Pindolol is a non-selective beta-adrenoceptor blocking agent with relatively marked intrinsic sympathomimetic activity. Stimulant effects in isolated, perfused mesenteric vessels (beta 2) equal those of isoprenaline. Effects on guinea-pig atria (beta 1) are negligible and those on guinea-pig trachea (beta 1 and beta 2) and cat atria (beta 1 and beta 2) are equivalent to 40-50% of the maximum effects of isoprenaline. It is concluded that the intrinsic sympathomimetic activity of pindolol is exerted principally on the beta 2-adrenoceptor. The beta-adrenoceptor blocking effect of pindolol is largely confined to the (-)enantiomer, whereas its stimulant effects are shared equally by the (+) and (-)enantiomers. Removal of the side chain hydroxyl group of pindolol does not diminish stimulant activity, but abolishes blocking activity. Pindolol-induced stimulation and blockade of beta-adrenoceptors may be brought about by different configurations of the molecule. Vasodilator effects observed in vitro and in vivo suggest that beta-adrenoceptor stimulation may make an important contribution to the antihypertensive effect of pindolol in man.     

Effects of some vasodilators on calcium translocation in intact and fractionated vascular smooth muscle.

The "lanthanum method" was used to measure the effects of vasodilators on the 45Ca influx induced in isolated strips of rabbit main pulmonary artery after replacement of NaCl by KCl in the bathing solution. Two Ca antagonists, verapamil and Ro 11-1781, produced dose-dependent inhibitions of 45Ca influx with IC50 values of 3 X 10(-7) and 4 X 10(-6)M, respectively. Papaverine was virtually equipotent with Ro 11-1781 (IC50 = 2 X 10(-6)M). High concentrations of diazoxide (10(-4) to 10(-3)M) and nitroglycerin (10(-3)M) were required to cause inhibitions which did not exceed 40%. While prazosin 3 X 10(-4)M stimulated 45Ca influx, sodium nitrite and sodium nitroprusside had no effect. A comparison of the effects of vasodilators on contraction and 45Ca influx indicated that, of the drugs studied, only Ca antagonists and papaverine may cause relaxation by interfering with Ca influx. While high concentrations (greater than 10(-4)M) of verapamil, papaverine and nitroglycerin produced an inhibition of 45Ca uptake by membrane fractions from rabbit aorta, the other vasodilators tested were inactive.     

Diminished arterial smooth muscle response to sodium nitroprusside during Na-K pump inhibition

Helical strips of rabbit coronary and femoral arteries were used to determine whether Na-K pump inhibition would diminish relaxation in response to sodium nitroprusside. Ouabain (10(-5) M) decreased relaxation by 10(-7) M sodium nitroprusside from 87.0 +/- 5.4 to 65.2 +/- 9.1% in coronary, and from 62.0 +/- 6.9 to 32.8 +/- 3.3% in femoral artery strips. A low Na solution and a K-free solution also decreased relaxation by sodium nitroprusside. Relaxation in response to K+, an index of Na-K pump activity in arterial smooth muscle, was enhanced in the presence of sodium nitroprusside. These results may reflect an interaction between sodium nitroprusside and the sarcolemmal Na-K pump of arterial smooth muscle.     

Effects of ketamine on vascular smooth muscle function

1 In vitro studies were undertaken on rat aortic strips and portal vein segments to determine whether or not the amine-type anaesthetic, ketamine, can exert direct actions on vascular smooth muscle.

2 Ketamine was found to inhibit development of spontaneous mechanical activity and lower basal tension. This action took place with ketamine concentrations found in anaesthetic plasma concentrations, i.e., 1 × 10^-5 to 2 × 10^-4 M.

3 Ketamine (10^-5 to 10^-3 M) dose-dependently attenuated contractions induced by adrenaline, noradrenaline, angiotensin II, vasopressin and KCl. These inhibitory actions were observed with ketamine added either before or after the induced contractions.

4 Ca²⁺-induced contractions of K⁺-depolarized aortae and portal veins were also attenuated, dose-dependently, by ketamine.

5 In contrast to the above inhibitory actions, ketamine (2 × 10^-6 to 1 × 10^-4 M) was found to potentiate specifically 5-hydroxytryptamine(5-HT)-induced contractions of both aortic and venous smooth muscle. However, this was only observed if ketamine was added after 5-HT had initiated a contractile response.

6 All of the inhibitory, as well as 5-HT-potentiating, effects were completely, and almost immediately, reversed upon washing out the anaesthetic from the organ baths.

7 A variety of pharmacological antagonists failed to mimic or affect the inhibitory effects induced by ketamine.

8 These data suggest that rat plasma concentrations of ketamine commonly associated with induction of surgical anaesthesia can induce, directly, relaxation and contractile potentiation of vascular muscle.

9 These diverse findings may aid in explaining the well-known biphasic pressor actions of ketamine.

     

Effects of convulsant barbiturates on vascular smooth muscle

The convulsant barbiturate, 5-(2-cyclohexylidene-ethyl)-5-ethyl barbituric acid (cheb ), produces contraction in rabbit aortic strips. Contractions effected by either cheb or tyramine were preceded by a lag time and both agents induced tachyphylaxis; however, cross-tachyphylaxis could not be demonstrated. Phenoxybenzamine and atropine failed to affect cheb -induced responses, whereas pentobarbitone selectively blocked and also reversed cheb contractions. Prevention, but not reversal, of tachyphylaxis was also accomplished with pentobarbitone. These results suggest that cheb does not act through the release of noradrenaline or acetylcholine; nor does it exert an effect on the receptors for these amines or on those for histamine. Pentobarbitone, however, appears to compete with cheb for common receptors. Another convulsant barbiturate, 5-ethyl-5-(dimethylbutyl)barbituric acid (dmbb ), and its optical isomers were also examined. The racemic mixture had no contractile activity, but the (+)-isomer elicited cheb -like effects. The (-)-isomer, on the other hand, was like pentobarbitone in that it antagonized both cheb - and (+)-dmbb -induced contractions. These studies illustrate that convulsant barbiturates are able to stimulate vascular smooth muscle; therefore, it is suggested that the rabbit aortic strip may serve as an in vitro working model for study of the mechanism of action of these drugs in the central nervous system.     

Effects of endothelin on cytosolic Ca2+ level and mechanical activity in rat uterine smooth muscle.

The effects of endothelin (ET) on cytosolic Ca2+ level ([Ca2+]i) and mechanical activity were examined in isolated rat uterine smooth muscle. ET-1, ET-2, ET-3 and sarafotoxin S6b (STX) induced rhythmic contractions superimposed on an increased muscle tone. The concentration needed to induce a half-maximum contraction (EC50) was 1.6-3.3 nM for ET-1, ET-2 and STX and higher than 200 nM for ET-3, suggesting that the ET(A) receptor is responsible for these contractions. The sensitivity to ET-1 of uterus at day 20 of gestation was higher than that of non-pregnant rat uterus. Contraction induced by ET-1 followed an increase in [Ca2+]i. The relation between [Ca2+]i and muscle tension, an an indicator of Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile elements, in the presence of ET-1 was identical to that in the presence of high K+ in non-pregnant and pregnant rat uteri. The ET-1-induced increases in [Ca2+]i and muscle tension were strongly inhibited by verapamil in non-pregnant rat uterus. In pregnant rat uterus, however, verapamil only partially inhibited the increases. The verapamil-insensitive portions of [Ca2+]i and contraction were inhibited by EGTA. In the absence of external Ca2+, ET changed neither [Ca2+]i nor muscle tension. These results suggest that ET-1 acts on ET(A) receptors, increase [Ca2+]i and induces contraction without changing Ca2+ sensitivity of contractile elements. The increase in [Ca2+]i seemed to be mediated by opening of L-type Ca2+ channels in non-pregnant rat uterus and also of non-L-type Ca2+ channels in pregnant rat uterus, but not by Ca2+ release from intracellular storage sites.     

Age-related decrease in the effect of parathyroid hormone-related protein on cytosolic free calcium level and tension in rat aortic smooth muscle

Age-related changes in the effect of parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) on the cytosolic free calcium level ([Ca⁺]_i) and on the tension in rat aortic smooth muscle were investigated. The possible involvement of cAMP, a second messenger of PTHrP, in such changes was also investigated. Spiral aortic strip preparations without endothelium from 8-weeks, 6-months, and 24-months old rats were treated with fura 2/AM, and the fluorescence ratio R340/380, an index of [Ca⁺]_i was measured. Simultaneously, the tension of the preparations was measured. PTHrP-(1–34) and dibutyryl cAMP produced concentration-dependent decreases in the tension and in R340/380 in aortas precontracted with phenylephrine (10^–7 M). These effects were significantly lower in the aortas of 24-months old rats than in the vessels of 8-weeks and 6-months old rats. The effects were similar in the aortas of 8-weeks and 6-months old rats. PTHrP-(1–34) concentration-dependently increased cAMP production in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) from 8-weeks old rats. However, the increase in cAMP production was significantly lower in cultured VSMCs from 6-months and 24-months old rats than in cells from 8-weeks old rats.These results suggest that the reduced cAMP production stimulated by PTHrP and the reduced effects of cAMP with aging might contribute to the age-related changes in the decreases in tension and [Ca⁺]_i in response to PTHrP in the rat aorta.