Attenuated 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor-mediated responses in aortae from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

1. This study was designed to examine further the attenuated contractile responses to 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) previously observed in aortae from diabetic rats. 2. Cumulative concentration-response curves to 5-HT, and the 5-HT receptor agonists, alpha-methyl 5-HT (alpha-Me-5-HT, 5-HT2/1C agonist), (+/-)-1-(2,5-dimethoxy-4-iodophenyl)-2- aminopropane (DOI, 5-HT2/1C agonist) and 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT, 5-HT1A/1B/1D agonist), were examined in endothelium-intact and -denuded aortae from 2-week streptozotocin (STZ)-diabetic and control rats. 3. In endothelium-intact and -denuded aortae from diabetic rats, maximum responses to 5-HT and alpha-Me-5-HT were significantly reduced compared to those of aortae from control rats. Responses to these agonists were inhibited by the 5-HT2/1C receptor antagonist, ketanserin (0.1 microM). 4. The attenuated responses to 5-HT of aortae from diabetic rats were normalized by chronic insulin treatment of the rats (5 units day-1, s.c.), but not by altering the glucose concentration of the bathing fluid. 5. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-nitro-L-arginine (NOLA, 0.1 mM) significantly potentiated responses to both 5-HT and alpha-Me-5-HT in endothelium-intact aortae. However, the difference between maximum responses of aortae from diabetic and control rats was still evident in the presence of NOLA. 6. Endothelium-intact rings, in the presence of ketanserin (0.1 microM) and preconstricted with the thromboxane A2-mimetic, U46619 (0.1-0.3 microM), from control and diabetic rats, did not relax to cumulative additions of 5-HT (1 nM-30 microM).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Attenuated responses to endothelin-1, KCl and CaCl2, but not noradrenaline, of aortae from rats with streptozotocin-induced diabetes mellitus.

1. This study investigated the responsiveness to vasoconstrictor agents (including endothelin-1, ET-1) of aortic rings from rats with two-week streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg kg-1, i.v.)-induced diabetes and vehicle-treated control rats. The basal tension was 10 g, which was estimated to be more physiological than the tension of 1-2 g that has been previously used for most studies of aortic rings from diabetic rats. 2. Maximum responses to ET-1 (0.13-18 nM), KCl (2-20 mM) or CaCl2 (10 microM-10 mM) were reduced in aortae from STZ-treated rats compared to those from control rats. Such reductions were still evident after removal of the endothelium. 3. Responses to noradrenaline (NA, 0.1 nM-26 microM) of aortae from STZ-treated rats were not significantly different from responses of aortae of control rats. 4. Removal of endothelium resulted in a significant reduction in the EC50 values for NA of rings from both STZ-treated rats (6.90 +/- 0.13 and 8.17 +/- 0.35 (-log M) with and without endothelium, respectively, n = 5) and control rats (6.90 +/- 0.15 and 8.37 +/- 0.44 (-log M) with and without endothelium, respectively, n = 5). 5. In calcium-free medium (with 1 mM EGTA), responses to NA and ET-1 were reduced compared with those in normal Krebs solution and maximum responses were less in rings from STZ-treated compared with control rats. 6. Indomethacin (5 microM) did not prevent the reduced maximum responsiveness to ET-1 in rings from STZ-treated rats compared with those from controls.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Endothelium-dependent and -independent effects of exogenous ATP, adenosine, GTP and guanosine on vascular tone and cyclic nucleotide accumulation of rat mesenteric artery.

1. The effects of exogenous guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) and guanosine on vascular tone and cyclic nucleotide accumulation of noradrenaline-precontracted endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rat mesenteric artery rings were compared with the effects of the known purinoceptor agonists adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine. 2. GTP (10 microM-1 mM) dose-dependently relaxed endothelium-intact mesenteric artery rings by producing a rapid initial response followed by sustained relaxation resembling the relaxant response to acetylcholine. GTP also slightly relaxed endothelium-denuded artery rings. The acetylcholine- and GTP-induced relaxations of endothelium-intact rings were attenuated by NG-nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 330 microM) which attenuation was reversed with L-arginine (1 mM). 3. Guanosine (10 microM-1 mM) relaxed both endothelium-intact and -denuded artery rings in a dose-dependent manner. The relaxations were more pronounced in endothelium-intact preparations and were only slightly attenuated by L-NAME (330 microM). 4. ATP (1 microM-1 mM) and adenosine (10 microM-1 mM) dose-dependently relaxed endothelium-intact and -denuded artery rings. The responses were more pronounced in endothelium-intact vascular preparations. 5. GTP (100 microM) and guanosine (100 microM) increased guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) accumulation in both endothelium-intact and -denuded artery rings corresponding to the relaxations observed. The concentrations of adenosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic AMP) were not affected. 6. ATP (100 microM) increased cyclic GMP concentration of endothelium-intact artery rings. The concentrations of cyclic AMP were not affected by ATP (100 microM) and adenosine (100 microM) in endothelium-intact and -denuded vascular preparations.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of glucose, insulin or aldose reductase inhibition on responses to endothelin-1 of aortic rings from streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

1. This study investigated the constrictor responsiveness to endothelin-1 (ET-1, 0.1 nM-0.1 microM) of aortic rings (under 10 g resting tension in Krebs solution) from 2- and 6-week streptozotocin (STZ, 60 mg kg-1, i.v.)-induced diabetic rats and vehicle-treated control rats. 2. In aortae from 2- and 6-week STZ-treated rats, and their corresponding controls, removal of endothelium caused leftward shifts of ET-1 concentration-response curves without affecting maximum responses. 3. Maximum responses to ET-1 were reduced in aortae from both 2- and 6-week STZ-treated rats compared to those from control rats. Such reductions were still evident after removal of the endothelium. 4. Decreased responsiveness to ET-1 of aortae from 2-week STZ-treated rats was still evident after chronic treatment with the aldose reductase inhibitor epalrestat, but not after chronic insulin treatment or in aortae bathed in high glucose (30 mM) Krebs solution. 5. Decreased responsiveness to ET-1 of aortae from 6-week STZ-treated rats (compared with those from controls) was still evident after chronic epalrestat treatment and in high glucose Krebs solution. 6. These data suggest that the decreased responsiveness to ET-1 observed in aortae from 2- and 6-week STZ-induced diabetic rats is not due to abnormal activity of the polyol pathway. The altered responsiveness in aortae from 2-week diabetic rats (compared with those from control rats) may possibly be a manifestation of changes (adaptive or otherwise) which occur as a result of high glucose concentrations in vivo.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effect of swimming on vascular reactivity to phenylephrine and KC1 in male rats.

1. The present study aimed to examine whether there is any change in vascular responsiveness to phenylephrine and KC1 during exercise, and whether the vascular endothelium plays a role in these changes. 2. Adult male rats were subjected to a swimming schedule every day for 5-6 weeks. Studies were performed in vitro on thoracic aortae. 3. Maximum contractile response to phenylephrine of endothelium-intact thoracic aortic rings (passive tension 1.0 g) obtained from swimming rats (1.2 +/- 0.2 g, n = 8) was lower than of sedentary control rats (2.1 +/- 0.2 g, n = 8). When the endothelium was removed, however, the dose-response curves of both groups of rats were shifted to the left with an increase in maximum responses and they were no longer significantly different (max. tension, swimming rats: 3.2 +/- 0.3 g, n = 6, control rats: 3.4 +/- 0.4 g, n = 5). 4. Indomethacin did not significantly alter the dose-response curves. A similar effect to that obtained by removal of the endothelium was observed when methylene blue and indomethacin were both added. 5. Passive tension in the range of 2.5-3.0 g, caused a significant increase in active tension developed to phenylephrine (1 microM for endothelium-intact and 0.1 microM for endothelium-denuded) of thoracic aortic rings of both swimming and sedentary control rats compared to their corresponding groups when using passive tension of 1.0-1.5 g. 6. The reduction in responses to phenylephrine of endothelium-intact thoracic aortic rings of swimming rats persisted with the use of a passive tension of 3.0 g.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of P1 and P2Y purinoceptor antagonists on endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations of rat mesenteric artery to GTP and guanosine.

1. Guanosine 5'-triphosphate (GTP) and guanosine can relax both endothelium-intact and -denuded arterial preparations. In the present work the P1 and P2Y purinoceptor antagonists, 8-phenyltheophylline and reactive blue 2, respectively, were used to study the mechanisms of relaxation responses induced by GTP, guanosine, adenosine 5'-triphosphate (ATP) and adenosine in noradrenaline-precontracted rat mesenteric artery rings. 2. GTP (10 microM-1mM) dose-dependently relaxed endothelium-intact mesenteric artery rings and also induced moderate relaxation responses in endothelium-denuded preparations. Pretreatment of the rings with 8-phenyltheophylline (10 microM) or reactive blue 2 (10 microM) did not attenuate the relaxant effect of GTP. 3. Guanosine (10 microM-1mM) relaxed both endothelium-intact and -denuded artery rings in a dose-dependent manner. The presence of 8-phenyltheophylline or reactive blue 2 had no effects on guanosine-induced relaxations. 4. ATP-induced (0.1 microM-0.1 mM) relaxation of endothelium-intact artery rings was attenuated by reactive blue 2 while 8-phenyltheophylline was ineffective. ATP also relaxed endothelium-denuded artery rings and this relaxation was inhibited by 8-phenyltheophylline, but not by reactive blue 2. 5. Adenosine-induced (10 microM-1 mM) relaxation of endothelium-intact and -denuded artery rings was attenuated by the presence of 8-phenyltheophylline, but not of reactive blue 2. 6. In conclusion, the endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations of rat mesenteric arteries to GTP and guanosine are not mediated via P1 and P2Y purinoceptors.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Protein kinase C-mediated contractile responses of arteries from diabetic rats.

1. The role of protein kinase C (PKC) in mediating enhanced contractile responses of aortae and mesenteric arteries from male rats with 12-14 week streptozotocin-induced diabetes to noradrenaline (NA) was investigated using the PKC activator, phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDB), and the PKC inhibitor, staurosporine. 2. Maximum contractile responses of aortae and mesenteric arteries from diabetic rats to NA were significantly enhanced compared with responses of arteries from age-matched control animals. The maximum NA responses were increased by 59.6 +/- 7.9% in aortae and by 54.9 +/- 7.4% in mesenteric arteries from diabetic animals, compared to their respective controls. 3. Pretreatment of aortae and mesenteric arteries from both control and diabetic animals with staurosporine (5 x 10(-8) M) caused marked inhibition of contractile responses to a maximum concentration of NA (10(-5) M in aortae; 3 x 10(-5) M in mesenteric arteries). In the presence of staurosporine, no difference was observed in the magnitude of contractile responses of arteries from control and diabetic rats to NA. 4. Maximum contractile responses of mesenteric arteries from diabetic rats to PDB were significantly increased (by 45.0 +/- 4.9%) compared to responses of arteries from control animals. In contrast, no significant difference was found in the magnitude of contractile responses or aortae from control and diabetic rats to PDB. 5. Staurosporine (5 x 10(-8) M caused marked attenuation of contractile responses of arteries from control and diabetic rats to a maximum concentration of PDB (3 x 10(-6) M).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

The role of endogenous thromboxane in contractions to U46619, oxygen, 5-HT and 5-CT in the human isolated umbilical artery

1. The effects of selective thromboxane antagonists and a thromboxane synthase inhibitor on the contraction to 9,11-dideoxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-epoxymethano-prostaglandin F2 alpha (U46619) and oxygen in the human umbilical artery (HUA) were examined. The effect of the antagonists on contractions to both 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT) were also examined. 2. U46619 (0.3 nM-10 microM) contracted the HUA. This contraction was antagonized by two selective thromboxane receptor antagonists EP092 (10 nM-1 microM) and GR32191B (10 nM-1 microM). The contraction was not affected by the selective thromboxane synthase inhibitor, dazoxiben (10 nM-1 microM). 3. When the oxygen tension was increased from 16 mmHg to 120 mmHg, the HUA transiently contracted. Both thromboxane antagonists inhibited this contraction in a concentration-dependent manner with 1 microM almost completely abolishing the response (the oxygen-induced contraction of the control preparation normally increases with a second exposure to 120 mmHg oxygen). 4. In low (16 mmHg) oxygen, responses to both 5-HT and 5-CT were unaffected by both thromboxane receptor antagonists at concentrations up to 1 microM. In high oxygen (120 mmHg) responses to both 5-HT and 5-CT were biphasic in nature, with an additional initial high sensitivity phase, which was abolished by a cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor. In high oxygen, EP092 and GR32191B blocked this initial phase in a concentration-dependent manner, returning sensitivity to 5-HT and 5-CT to that seen in low oxygen.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Modulation of vascular reactivity in normal, hypertensive and diabetic rat aortae by a non-antioxidant flavonoid.

In this study, we report the effects of a non-antioxidant flavonoid flavone on vascular reactivity in Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat isolated aortae. Whether flavone directly modulates vascular reactivity in spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic-WKY rat isolated aortae was also determined. Thoracic aortic rings were mounted in organ chambers and exposed to various drug treatments in the presence of flavone (10 microM) or its vehicle (DMSO), which served as control. Pretreatment with flavone enhanced relaxant effects to endothelium-dependent vasodilator acetylcholine (ACh) and attenuated contractile effects to alpha(1)-receptor agonist phenylephrine (PE) in WKY aortae compared to those observed in control aortic rings. Flavone had no effect on relaxations to ACh in WKY aortae incubated with either L-NAME or methylene blue, but enhanced relaxations to ACh in WKY aortae incubated with indomethacin or partially depolarized with KCl. Relaxations to ACh are totally abolished in both control or flavone pretreated endothelium-denuded WKY aortae. Flavone attenuated the inhibition by beta-NADH of ACh-induced relaxation in WKY aortae, but it had no significant effect on the transient contractions induced by beta-NADH nor the pyrogallol-induced abolishment of ACh-induced relaxation in WKY aortae. Flavone enhanced endothelium-independent relaxation to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) in both endothelium-intact and -denuded WKY aortae. Flavone enhanced relaxation to ACh and SNP as well as attenuated contractile effects to PE in SHR and diabetic aortae, a finding similar to that observed in normal WKY aortae. From these results, we conclude that flavone modulates vascular reactivity in normal as well as hypertensive and diabetic aortae. These effects of flavone results probably through enhanced bioactivity of nitric oxide released from the endothelium.     

Characterization of excitatory prostanoid receptors in the human umbilical artery in vitro

1. 5-HT and the prostanoid TP receptor agonists, U46619 and I-BOP, constricted the human umbilical artery with pEC50 values of 7.3+/-0. 2, 6.7+/-0.1, and 7.3+/-0.2, respectively. The selective TP receptor antagonist, GR32191 (0.1 microM), shifted the concentration-effect curves to U46619 and I-BOP to the right, but had no effect on the response to 5-HT. 2. The natural prostaglandins, PGF2alpha and PGE2, caused concentration-dependent contraction with pEC50 values of 5.2+/-0.2 and 4.9+/-0.2, respectively. PGD2 was a partial agonist with a pEC50 of 5.24+/-0.03. GR32191 (0.1 microM) inhibited the responses to all of these compounds suggesting that they produce contraction by acting at TP receptors. 3. Sulprostone failed to elicit contraction in the human umbilical artery at concentrations up to 4.4 microM suggesting the absence of EP1 and EP3 receptors. Despite this, 17-phenyltrinor PGE2 and GR63799 both induced contraction at concentrations above 1 microM, but the effects were sensitive to GR32191 (0.1 microM). 4. Fluprostenol had no effect on the human umbilical artery at concentrations up to 17 microM suggesting the absence of FP receptors. Cloprostenol was ineffective in two tissues, but caused contraction in one tissue at the highest concentration tested (1.7 microM). However, this response was abolished in the presence of GR32191 (0.1 microM). 5. The effects of four TP receptor antagonists were assessed by global non-linear regression analysis. GR32191, SQ29548, SQ30741, and ICI192605 competitively inhibited responses to U46619 with pKb values of 8.0+/-0.1, 7.6+/-0.1, 7.0+/-0. 2 and 8.1+/-0.1, respectively. 6 These results suggest that the human umbilical artery functionally expresses TP receptors, but not EP1, EP2 or FP receptors.     

Vascular reactivity to various vasoconstrictor agents and endothelium-dependent relaxations of rat thoracic aorta in the long-term period of pinealectomy

In this study, the effects of reduced melatonin concentrations in the long-term period of pinealectomy on mean arterial blood pressure (BP) and vascular responses in isolated rat thoracic aorta were investigated. Rats were pinealectomized (Px) two months before the beginning of the studies. Rings of endothelium-intact and -denuded rat arteries were mounted in isolated tissue baths for the measurements of isometric contractile force. No significant difference was determined between the arterial BP of Px (88.1 +/- 1.9 mmHg) and control (83.8 +/- 1.2 mmHg) rats. All arteries isolated from control and Px rats showed essentially identical contractions in response to phenylephrine, serotonin, calcium, clonidine, vasopressin, and angiotensin-II. Only endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced contractions in the endothelium-denuded vessels isolated from Px rats were found to be increased to some extent. Pinealectomy did not affect acetylcholine or sodium nitroprusside-induced relaxation in the rat aorta either. These data suggest that reduced melatonin levels two months after pinealectomy did not modify either the vascular reactivity to various vasoconstrictor agents except the partially increased contractile responses to ET-1 in the endothelium-denuded thoracic aortas of Px rats or the endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations in rat thoracic aorta. Restoration of the increased vascular responses to some vasoconstrictor agents, which were reported previously, may be the reason of why the hypertension is temporary following pinealectomy.     

Potentiation of 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced contraction in rat aorta by chlorpheniramine, citalopram and fluoxetine.

This study examined the effects of chlorpheniramine, citalopram and fluoxetine on 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT)-induced contraction and 5-HT uptake in rat thoracic aortic rings in vitro. Chlorpheniramine and citalopram markedly potentiated 5-HT-induced contraction. Potentiation by fluoxetine was less pronounced. Chlorpheniramine (0.01-1 microM) and citalopram (0.1-1 microM) induced concentration-dependent parallel shifts to the left of the 5-HT concentration-response curves. The potentiation by chlorpheniramine was selective as chlorpheniramine (1 microM) did not potentiate phenylephrine-induced contraction. The potentiation did not depend upon the presence of endothelium, and was not related to H1 receptor antagonism as diphenhydramine and pyrilamine (1 microM) did not similarly enhance 5-HT-induced contractions. Whereas cocaine (1-10 microM) similarly potentiated 5-HT-induced contraction, imipramine (1-10 microM) inhibited, rather than enhanced, contraction elicited by 5-HT. In the presence of 10 microM cocaine, maximally effective concentrations of chlorpheniramine (1 microM) or citalopram (100 nM) did not induce any additional potentiation of 5-HT-induced contraction. Cooling (4 degrees C) markedly inhibited uptake of [3H]5-HT in rings with and without endothelium. Although less marked, imipramine (10 microM), cocaine (1 microM), chlorpheniramine (1 microM) and citalopram (100 nM) inhibited [3H]5-HT uptake in endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rings. Fluoxetine also inhibited [3H]5-HT uptake, but the inhibition was only statistically significant in endothelium-intact rings. The monoamine oxidase (MAO) inhibitor, pargyline (10-100 microM), did not significantly affect 5-HT-induced contraction. The results demonstrate that chlorpheniramine, citalopram and to a lesser extent, fluoxetine potentiate 5-HT-induced contraction in rat aorta in which neuronal 5-HT uptake is negligible. The data are consistent with inhibition of non-neuronal 5-HT uptake as at least one mechanism responsible for potentiation of 5-HT-induced contraction in rat aorta by chlorpheniramine, citalopram and fluoxetine.     

Influence of hypertension on acetaldehyde-induced vasorelaxation in rat thoracic aorta.

Ethanol causes vasoconstriction and contributes to the development of hypertension. Acetaldehyde (ACA), the primary metabolite of ethanol, elevates blood pressure by releasing endogenous catecholamines. In vitro, ACA leads to vasorelaxation, although the response may vary among various vascular beds. This study examined the influence of hypertensive state on the ACA-induced vasorelaxant responsiveness. Ring segments of thoracic aorta were isolated from Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and isometric tension development was measured. In aorta with or without intact endothelium, the contractile responses to KCl and norepinephrine were greatly attenuated, whereas vasoconstrictive response to 5-HT was enhanced, by hypertension. Vasorelaxant response to histamine was similar between WKY and SHR groups. ACA (1-30 mM) elicited endothelium-intact as well as -denuded vasorelaxation in a dose-dependent manner in aorta from both WKY and SHR groups. Interestingly, the ACA-induced endothelium-intact vasorelaxation was significantly diminished, whereas the ACA-induced endothelium-denuded vasorelaxation was significantly augmented, by hypertension. These data indicated that the ACA-induced vasorelaxant response, either endothelium-intact or-denuded, is altered by the hypertensive state.     

Pharmacological evidence for the 5-HT7 receptor mediating smooth muscle relaxation in canine cerebral arteries.

1. We investigated in the present study whether 5-HT is able to exert direct relaxant responses in canine basilar and middle cerebral arteries via the 5-HT7 receptor. 2. In arterial rings deprived of endothelium and pre-contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha (2 microM), 5-HT, 5-carboxamidotryptamine (5-CT), 5-methoxytryptamine, sumatriptan or alpha-methyl-5-HT produced further increase in tone and/or slight relaxation. Blockade of 5-HT1B 1D and 5-HT2A receptors with GR127935 (1 microM) and ketanserin (0.1 microM), respectively, antagonized the vasoconstrictor component of the response and unmasked a concentration-dependent relaxation to 5-HT, 5-CT and 5-methoxytryptamine; sumatriptan and alpha-methyl-5-HT remained inactive as relaxant agonists. The rank order of agonist potency in both arteries was 5-CT > 5-HT > 5-methoxytryptamine > sumatriptan > or = alpha-methyl-5-HT. 3. In dog basilar artery, pre-incubated with GR127935 (1 microM) and ketanserin (0.1 microM) and precontracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha (2 microM), the 5-HT7 ligands, clozapine (1 microM), mesulergine (0.3 microM), methiothepin (3 nM), risperidone (3 nM), spiperone (1 microM) and LY215840 (10-100 nM), produced significant rightward shifts of the concentration-response curves for 5-HT and 5-CT. Only methiothepin and risperidone reduced significantly the maximum relaxant response (Emax), whilst the other drugs behaved as competitive antagonists with affinity values (pKB) that significantly correlated with their binding affinity (pKi) at recombinant 5-HT7 receptors. 4. These data disclosing the involvement of the 5-HT7 receptor in cerebrovascular relaxation may be strongly relevant in the light of: (1) the involvement of 5-HT in migraine; (2) the putative linkage between cephalovascular vasodilatation and migraine headache; and (3) the relatively high 5-HT7 receptor affinity of migraine prophylactic 5-HT antagonists.     

Effects of U46619 on contractions to 5-HT,sumatriptan and methysergide in canine coronary artery and saphenous vein in vitro.

1. The aim of this study was to investigate the mechanism of enhanced reactivity to 5''-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and sumatriptan previously observed in human isolated coronary arteries when active force was raised with the thromboxane A2-mimetic, U46619. 2. Ring segments of dog isolated coronary artery and saphenous vein were suspended in organ baths and cumulative concentration-contraction curves to 5-HT, sumatriptan and methysergide were constructed in the absence and presence of low concentrations of U46619. 3. In both endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rings of coronary artery, precontraction with U46619 to low (< 10% Fmax; the contraction to a maximum depolarizing 125 mM KCl Krebs solution; KPSS) levels of active force had no effect on either the maximum contraction or sensitivity (pEC50) to 5-HT, sumatriptan and methysergide. 4. Ketanserin (1 microM) had no effect on contractions to sumatriptan and methysergide in endothelium-denuded coronary artery rings, but reduced the maximum contraction to 5-HT by approximately 90% to a value (5% Fmax) similar to that for sumatriptan and methylsergide. Under these conditions, U46619 precontraction had no effect on either pEC50 or maximum for 5-HT, sumatriptan or methysergide. 5. In rings of saphenous vein with endothelium and treated with ketanserin (1 microM), 5-HT and sumatriptan caused equal maximum responses of 65% Fmax which were approximately double that of methysergide (32% Fmax). The maximum responses and sensitivity to 5-HT, sumatriptan, methysergide and noradrenaline were unaffected by precontraction with U46619.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Mechanisms underlying relaxation of rabbit aorta by BAY 41-2272, a nitric oxide-independent soluble guanylate cyclase activator

1. The compound BAY 41-2272 (5-cyclopropyl-2-[1-(2-fluoro-benzyl)-1H-pyrazolo[3,4-b]pyridin-3-yl]-pyrimidin-4-ylamine) has been described as a potent, nitric oxide (NO)-independent, stimulator of soluble guanylate cyclase. In the present study, the mechanisms underlying the relaxant effect of BAY 41-2272 in endothelium-intact and -denuded precontracted rabbit aortic rings were investigated. 2. Male New Zealand white rabbits were anaesthetized with pentobarbital sodium. Aortic rings were transferred to 10 mL organ baths containing oxygenated and warmed Krebs' solution. Tissues were connected to force-displacement transducers and changes in isometric force were recorded. Aortic rings were precontracted submaximally with phenylephrine (1 micromol/L). 3. The addition of BAY 41-2272 (0.01-10 micromol/L) to the organ bath produced concentration-dependent relaxations of the aortic rings with a higher potency in endothelium-intact (pEC50 6.59 +/- 0.05) compared with endothelium-denuded (pEC50 6.19 +/- 0.04; P < 0.05) preparations. No differences in maximal responses were observed in either preparation. The NO synthesis inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (100 micromol/L) produced a 2.1-fold rightward shift in endothelium-intact (P < 0.01) rings, but had no effect in endothelium-denuded rings. The soluble guanylate cyclase inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ; 1 micromol/L) caused significant rightward shifts of the concentration-response curves to BAY 41-2272 of 4.9- and 2.6-fold in endothelium-intact and -denuded rings, respectively. The phosphodiesterase-5 inhibitor sildenafil (0.1 micromol/L) significantly potentiated the relaxant effects of BAY 41-2272 in both endothelium-intact and -denuded rings. 4. At 1 micromol/L, BAY 41-2272 significantly elevated the aortic cGMP content above basal levels in both endothelium-intact and -denuded rings. Furthermore, ODQ reduced BAY 41-2272-elicited increases in cGMP content by 17 and 90% in endothelium-intact and -denuded rings, respectively (P < 0.01). 5. In conclusion, BAY 41-2272 potently relaxes endothelium-intact and -denuded rabbit aortic rings. The basal release of endothelium-derived NO enhances BAY 41-2272-induced relaxations, suggesting a synergistic effect of BAY 41-2272 and NO on soluble guanylate cyclase. In addition, the endothelium-independent relaxation involves both GMP-dependent and -independent mechanisms.     

Differences in response to 5-HT4 receptor agonists and antagonists of the 5-HT4-like receptor in human colon circular smooth muscle.

1. In isolated circular smooth muscle strips of human colon 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) produced a concentration-related inhibition of spontaneous motility. 2. The azabicycloalkyl benzimidazolones, BIMU 8 and BIMU 1, which have 5-HT4 receptor stimulant properties, inhibited motility with EC50 values of 0.76 microM and 3.19 microM respectively and their Emax values were not significantly different from 5-HT (EC50, 0.13 microM). 3. The 5-HT4 receptor antagonist, DAU 6285 (1-10 microM), displaced the 5-HT concentration-response curve to the right in a parallel concentration-dependent manner without depressing the maximum. The Schild plot was linear and the slope did not differ significantly from unity giving a pA2 value of 6.32. 4. The high affinity selective 5-HT4 receptor antagonist, GR 113808, at a concentration of 3 nM displaced the 5-HT concentration-response curve in a parallel manner giving an apparent pKB estimate of 8.9 +/- 0.24. However, higher concentrations of 10-100 nM GR 113808 did not result in a further significant displacement of the 5-HT concentration-response curve and there was no suppression of Emax. 5. GR 113808 (10 nM) also caused a parallel displacement of the concentration-response curve to the 5-HT4 receptor agonist, 5-methoxytryptamine (5-MeOT) giving apparent pKB values ranging from 8.3-9.3. 6. GR 113808 (3-100 nM) failed to displace 5-HT or 5-MeOT concentration-response curves in tissue strips from 3 patients out of a total of 10 patients studied in whom the response to 5-HT and 5-MeOT was normal.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Neurogenically mediated contractions of dog basilar artery involve the release of a thromboxane-like substance

Electrical field stimulation of dog isolated basilar artery produced neurogenically mediated contractions which were unaffected by phentolamine (1 microM), atropine (1 microM), ketanserin (1 microM) or methiothepin (0.1 microM). Responses were abolished by GR32191 (1-10 nM), BM 13.177 (0.1-10 microM) or flurbiprofen (0.5 microM) and markedly attenuated by dazoxiben (1-10 microM). Removal of the endothelium by Triton X-100-perfusion did not modify the magnitude of contractions to electrical stimulation and GR32191 still abolished the responses. GR32191 (1-10 nM) did not modify neurogenically mediated contraction of rabbit ear artery or potassium chloride-induced contraction of dog basilar artery. The results suggest that electrical field stimulation of dog basilar artery causes contractions which are mediated via a cyclo-oxygenase product with characteristics similar to thromboxane. This thromboxane-like substance is not endothelial in origin, nor released by contraction of the cerebrovascular smooth muscle per se and is therefore derived from a subendothelial, possibly neuronal, source.     

Characterization of 5-hydroxytryptamine receptors mediating contractions in basilar arteries from stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats.

1. The 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) induced-contraction in ring preparations of basilar arteries from Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP) was pharmacologically characterized in vitro. 2. Contractile responses to 5-HT (1 nM-100 nM) and their pD2 values in arteries from SHRSP at 6 months of age were significantly greater than those in age-matched WKY, although the maximum response did not differ between the two groups. 3. There were no significant differences in contractile responses to U-44619, endothelin-1, neuropeptide Y, and angiotensin II between WKY and SHRSP arteries. 4. Spiperone (1 nM-1 microM, a 5-HT2 receptor antagonist), produced biphasic displacement of the 5-HT curves in WKY and SHRSP arteries. The response to high concentrations of 5-HT was concentration-dependently antagonized by spiperone, while the response to low concentrations of 5-HT was resistant to blockade by spiperone, and the spiperone-resistant contractile responses induced by 5-HT were greater in SHRSP than in WKY. Ketanserin (1-100 nM, 5-HT2) also produced a biphasic shift of the 5-HT curves for both arteries. 5. Methiothepin (10 and 100 nM, 5-HT1 and 5-HT2) potently inhibited 5-HT-induced contractions in both groups. In addition, methiothepin (100 nM) produced a parallel shift to the right of the component of 5-HT-induced contractile responses that was resistant to blockade by spiperone in both groups. 6. The contractile effects of 5-HT in WKY and SHRSP arteries were not affected by MDL 72222 (1 microM, 5-HT3) and SDZ 205-557 (1 microM, 5-HT4). In addition, cocaine (10 microM), pargyline (50 microM), prazosin (10 microM), indomethacin (3 microM) and SQ 29,548 (1 microM) did not affect the contractile effects of 5-HT in either artery. 7. Contractile responses to 5-carboxamidotryptamine, CGS 12066B, pindolol and propranolol were greater in SHRSP arteries than in WKY arteries, whereas contractions in response to 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT), alpha-methyl-5-HT and 2-methyl-5-HT did not differ between the two groups. Cisapride failed to contract basilar arteries in both groups. Furthermore, a correlation analysis showed a highly significant correlation between the pD2 values of 5-HT agonists in WKY and SHRSP arteries and their published binding affinities at the 5-HT1B subtype. 8. These findings suggest that 5-HT elicits vasoconstriction in rat basilar arteries by stimulation of a mixed receptor population of 5-HT2 and 5-HT1-like receptors (similar to the 5-HT1B receptor subtype), and that the contraction mediated by 5-HT1-like receptors is enhanced in the basilar artery from SHRSP.     

Attenuation of vasoconstriction by endogenous nitric oxide in rat caudal artery.

1. The effects of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), haemoglobin and methylene blue have been examined on vascular reactivity in the rat isolated caudal artery. The effects of L-NNA and sodium nitroprusside were also investigated on the stimulation-induced (S-I) efflux of noradrenaline in the rat caudal artery. 2. L-NNA (10 microM) and L-NAME (10 microM) significantly attenuated the vasodilator responses to acetylcholine (1 nM-1 microM), but had no effect on vasodilator responses to papaverine (1-100 microM). 3. Vasoconstrictor responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation (3 Hz, 10 s), noradrenaline (0.01-1 microM), methoxamine (1-10 microM), 5-hydroxytryptamine (0.01-0.3 microM), phenylephrine (0.1-10 microM), endothelin-1 (10 nM) and KCl (40 mM) were significantly enhanced by 10 microM L-NNA. L-NAME (10 microM) caused a significant enhancement of vasoconstrictor responses to noradrenaline and sympathetic nerve stimulation in endothelium-intact, but not in endothelium-denuded tissues. 4. Haemoglobin and methylene blue (both 10 microM) enhanced the vasoconstrictor responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation and noradrenaline. The enhancements were absent in endothelium-denuded arterial segments. 5. In endothelium-denuded arterial segments precontracted with phenylephrine, the vasodilator responses to the nitric oxide donor, sodium nitroprusside (0.1-300 nM) were decreased by increasing the level of precontraction. 6. L-NNA (10 microM) had no effect on the S-I efflux of radioactivity from arteries in which transmitter stores had been labelled with [3H]-noradrenaline.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)