Thimerosal induces endothelium-dependent vascular smooth muscle relaxations by interacting with thiol groups

The sulfhydryl reagent thimerosal, as well as acetylcholine and Ca2+-ionophore A23187, produced concentration-dependent relaxations of intact rabbit aortic strips. The ability of strips to relax in response to these agents was dependent on the presence of vascular endothelium. Purposely removing the endothelium led to a complete loss of the relaxation responses. Thimerosal was at least as efficacious as A23187 in inducing endothelium-dependent relaxations, but its relaxations developed much slower than those induced by A23187 or acetylcholine. A small concentration of thimerosal that had no appreciable effect by itself, potentiated the relaxing response to acetylcholine in endothelium-intact preparations. Endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by larger concentrations of thimerosal, as well as relaxations produced by acetylcholine, were inhibited by the antioxidant and lipoxygenase inhibitor nordihydroguaiaretic acid, by haemoglobin, and by the inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase methylene blue. Indomethacin had no effect on these relaxations. The thiol compounds glutathione, 2-mercaptoethanol and a low concentration of dithiothreitol prevented (and reversed) relaxations induced by thimerosal, but had little or no effect on ACh relaxations. A high concentration of dithiothreitol also markedly inhibited the ACh relaxation. These results are consistent with the hypothesis that thimerosal stimulates endothelial cells to produce a relaxing substance whose properties are similar or the same as those of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) released in response to acetylcholine or A23187. The biochemical mechanism by which thimerosal induces the formation and/or release of this relaxing substance is likely to be different from ACh.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inhibition by quinine of endothelium-dependent relaxation of rabbit aortic strips

1 The effects of quinine sulphate, tetramethylammonium chloride (TMA) and tetraethylammonium chloride (TEA) (all blockers of the Ca2+-activated K+ channels) on the relaxations induced by acetylcholine (ACh), calcium ionophore A23187 and sodium nitrite were studied in helical strips of rabbit aorta. 2 The strips were contracted to a moderate stable tone with phenylephrine (10(-7) M). ACh (4 X 10(-9) to 10(-6) M) as well as A23187 (10(-8) to 3 X 10(-7) M) reduced this tone in a concentration- and endothelium-dependent manner. 3 Pretreatment of the tissues with quinine (2.5 X 10(-5) to 10(-4) M) for 60 min produced a concentration-dependent inhibition of the relaxation induced by ACh. Also 90 min incubation of the strips with TMA (3 X 10(-3) to 6.5 X 10(-2) M) or TEA (10(-3) to 3 X 10(-2) M) inhibited the ACh-evoked relaxation in a manner similar to quinine. 4 Quinine (10(-4) M, 60 min), TMA (6.5 X 10(-2) M, 90 min) or TEA (3 X 10(-2) M, 90 min) produced 5 to 10 fold reductions in the relaxant EC50 values of A23187 and ACh and depressed (by 40 to 95%) the maximal relaxations to the ionophore and ACh. 5 On a molar basis, quinine was more effective than the two tetraalkylammonium ions in reducing the endothelium-dependent relaxations of the aortic strips induced by ACh or A23187. The inhibitory actions were reversible after 60 to 90 min washout.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Effects of ascorbic acid on impaired vascular reactivity in aortas isolated from age-matched hypertensive and diabetic rats

Impaired vascular reactivity is a hallmark of several cardiovascular diseases that include hypertension and diabetes. This study compared the changes in vascular reactivity in age-matched experimental hypertension and diabetes, and, subsequently, tested whether these changes could be affected directly by ascorbic acid (10 microM). Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) modulation of ascorbic acid effects was also investigated. All the experiments were performed in the presence of a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10 microM). Results showed that the endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations induced by acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), respectively, were blunted to a similar extent in isolated aortic rings from age-matched spontaneously hypertensive (SHR) (R(max): ACh = 72.83+/-1.86%, SNP = 96.6+/-1.90%) and diabetic (Rmax: ACh = 64.09+/-5.14%, SNP = 95.84+/-1.41%) rats compared with aortic rings of normal rats (Rmax: ACh = 89%, SNP = 104.0+/-1.0%). The alpha1-receptor-mediated contractions induced by phenylephrine (PE) were augmented in diabetic (Cmax = 148.8+/-9.0%) rat aortic rings compared to both normal (Cmax = 127+/-6.9%) and SHR (Cmax = 118+/-4.5%) aortic rings. Ascorbic acid pretreatment was without any significant effects on the vascular responses to ACh, SNP and PE in aortic rings from normal rats. Ascorbic acid significantly improved ACh-induced relaxations in SHR (Rmax = 89.09+/-2.82%) aortic rings to a level similar to that observed in normal aortic rings, but this enhancement in ACh-induced relaxations was only partial in diabetic aortic rings. Ascorbic acid lacked any effects on SNP-induced relaxations in both SHR and diabetic aortic rings. Ascorbic acid markedly attenuated contractions induced by PE in aortic rings from both SHR (Cmax = 92.9+/-6.68%) and diabetic (Cmax = 116.9+/-9.4%) rats. Additionally, following inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis with l-NAME, ascorbic acid attenuated PE-induced contractions in all aortic ring types studied. These results suggest that (1) vascular hyper-responsiveness to alpha(1)-receptor agonists in diabetic arteries is independent of endothelial nitric oxide dysfunction; (2) ascorbic acid directly modulates contractile responses of hypertensive and diabetic rat aortas, likely through mechanisms in part independent of preservation of endothelium-derived nitric oxide.     

MECHANISMS OF IMPAIRMENT OF ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT RELAXATION TO ACETYLCHOLINE IN WATANABE HERITABLE HYPERLIPIDAEMIC RABBIT AORTAS

1. The mechanism of impairment of the endothelium-dependent relaxation in response to acetylcholine (ACh) in aortas from Watanabe heritable hyperlipidaemic (WHHL) rabbits was investigated using a modified sandwich (layered) technique. Intact aortas from WHHL rabbits or Japanese white (JW) rabbits as the control were used as donor strips of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDFU?) and endothelium-denuded aortas from JW rabbits were used as detector strips. The EDRF released from a donor strip could be directly detected as the relaxation response in a detector strip. 2. The endothelium-dependent relaxations in all rabbit arteries were almost abolished by treatment with N^G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase). 3. The ACh-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations in the donor strips were impaired in WHHL rabbits in comparison with relaxations in JW and heterozygous WHHL rabbits. Similarly, the relaxation in the detector strips induced by EDRF released from donor strips was reduced in WHHL rabbits. There was a good negative correlation between the aortic total cholesterol content in the donor strips and the degree of relaxation in the detector strips from WHHL rabbits. 4. The reduced relaxation in the detector strips when using donor strips with high cholesterol accumulation or atheromatous plaque was not affected by superoxide dismutase plus catalase (scavengers of superoxide anions), indomethacin (an inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase), ONO-3708 (an antagonist of endoperoxide/ thromboxane receptor) and 97–139 (an antagonist of endothelin ET_A receptor). 5. These results suggest that the mechanism of impaired endothelium-dependent relaxations in atherosclerotic WHHL rabbit aortas may be due to the reduced amount of EDRF, probably nitric oxide, from the endothelium and not due to its inactivation by oxygen-derived free radicals or masking by increased production of endothelium-derived contracting factors.     

Effects of colforsin, trequinsin and isoprenaline on norepinephrine-induced contractions and cyclic nucleotide levels of isolated vascular tissue

Recent observations imply the involvement of an endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) in the vasodilation of isolated vascular preparations accompanied by an increase of cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP). To investigate the changes of cGMP and cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) in endothelium-dependent relaxation of isolated rabbit thoracic aortic rings we used colforsin (forskolin, FOR) as an adenylate cyclase stimulator, trequinsin (TRE) as a phosphodiesterase inhibitor and isoprenaline (ISO) as a beta-adrenoceptor agonist. Norepinephrine (NE, 10(-8) mol/l) evoked a contractile response in intact rings of rabbit aorta. In these precontracted rings with endothelium, acetylcholine (ACh) induced a concentration-dependent relaxation at 10(-8)-10(-6) mol/l. FOR, TRE and ISO reduced NE-vasoconstrictor responses in a concentration-dependent manner with an IC50 of 4.1 x 10(-8) mol/l, 8.5 x 10(-7) mol/l and 4.0 x 10(-7) mol/l, respectively, in rabbit aortic rings with endothelium. These effects were associated with elevations (p less than 0.05) in cAMP and cGMP in vascular tissue. In segments with disrupted endothelium the IC50 for FOR and TRE were increased about 3.5- and 2.3-fold, without changes in cyclic nucleotides. All three compounds attenuated ACh-induced relaxations of aortic rings in a concentration-dependent manner. High concentrations of FOR (10(-7) mol/l) and TRE (10(-5)) which increased cAMP even reversed ACh-induced relaxations, comparable to ACh effects in de-endothelialized vascular tissue. It is suggested that FOR-, TRE- and ISO-induced relaxations of isolated aortic preparations, accompanied by increased cAMP, interact with EDRF-dependent relaxations.     

Modulation of vascular tone by 12(R)-, but not 12(S)-, hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid

The vascular activity of the two stereoisomers of 12-hydroxyeicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE) was assessed on rabbit thoracic aortic rings. In vessels contracted in K+-free media, 12(R)-HETE inhibited the relaxations produced by the addition of KCl, in a concentration-dependent manner, while 12(S)-HETE had little effect. 12(R)-HETE, but not the 12(S) isomer, potentiated phenylephrine-induced contractions of aortic rings in normal buffer. Thus 12(R)-HETE can modulate vascular tone, perhaps by inhibition of Na+,K+-ATPase activity.     

Direct effects of quercetin on impaired reactivity of spontaneously hypertensive rat aortae: comparative study with ascorbic acid

1. There is a growing interest in the anti-oxidant characteristics and use of flavonoids in the management of cardiovascular diseases. The cardiovascular mechanism of action of these plant derivatives remains controversial. This study compared the effects of the flavonoid quercetin with those of the anti-oxidant vitamin ascorbic acid (vitamin C) on the reactivity of aortic rings from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). 2. The phenylephrine (PE)-induced contractile and the endothelium-dependent and independent relaxant responses of aortic rings from 21 to 22 week old SHR and age-matched normotensive Wistar (WKY) rats were observed in the presence of quercetin or ascorbic acid. All the experiments were performed in the presence of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10 micromol/L). 3. The endothelium-dependent and independent relaxations to acetylcholine (ACh) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP), respectively, were significantly lesser in the SHR compared to the WKY tissues whereas the contractile responses to PE were similar in both tissues. Pretreatment of WKY rings with quercetin or ascorbic acid had no effect on the responses to ACh or PE. In the SHR tissues, however, quercetin or ascorbic acid significantly improved the relaxation responses to ACh and reduced the contractions to PE with greater potency for quercetin. Both compounds lacked any effects on the responses to SNP in either aortic ring types. N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME, 10 micromol/L) significantly attenuated the vasodepressor effects of quercetin and ascorbic acid, raising the responses to PE to a level similar to that observed in the control SHR tissues. In l-NAME pretreated aortic rings, quercetin and ascorbic acid inhibited the contractile responses to PE with the same magnitude in WKY and SHR tissues. 4. The present results suggest that acute exposure to quercetin improves endothelium-dependent relaxation and reduces the contractile responses of hypertensive aortae with a greater potency than ascorbic acid. This suggests a better vascular protection with this flavonoid than ascorbic acid in the SHR model of hypertension and possibly in human cardiovascular diseases.     

Impairment of relaxations to acetylcholine and nitric oxide by a phorbol ester in rat isolated aorta.

1. This study compared the abilities of acetylcholine (ACh) (endothelium-dependent) and nitric oxide (NO) (endothelium-independent and which may be the active component of the endothelium-derived relaxing factor) to relax rat isolated aortic rings contracted with equi-effective concentrations of noradrenaline (NA) or phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA). 2. ACh and NO induced concentration-dependent relaxations of aortic rings contracted with NA (EC70 value: 0.2 microM). However, relaxations to both ACh and NO were markedly reduced in rings contracted with PMA (EC80 value: 0.5 microM). NO-induced relaxations of tissues were not affected by removal of the endothelium, but ACh-induced relaxations were confirmed to be endothelium-dependent. 3. ACh (10 microM) induced a 10 fold increase in guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) levels above control values in aortic rings contracted with NA (0.2 microM), but did not affect cyclic GMP levels in rings contracted with PMA (0.5 microM). 4. NO (3 microM) induced a 100 fold increase in cyclic GMP levels above control values in aortic rings contracted with NA (0.2 microM), but only an 11 fold increase in tissues contracted with PMA (0.5 microM). 5. It is concluded that the action (s) of EDRF (NO) are impaired in the presence of PMA by a mechanism that may involve the stimulation of protein kinase C in vascular smooth muscle cells.     

The endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect of acetylcholine: characterization of the endothelial relaxing factor with inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism

Acetylcholine (ACh) caused concentration-dependent relaxation of strips of rabbit thoracic aorta precontracted with noradrenaline if the endothelium was intact. More than ten-fold higher concentrations of ACh also stimulated the release of prostacyclin (PGI2) and PGE2 from the strips. De-endothelialized strips released much smaller amounts of prostaglandins and contracted slightly to ACh. The endothelium-dependent vasodilation was resistant to cyclooxygenase inhibition by indomethacin, flurbiprofen and diclofenac. However, it could be reversed by six different inhibitors of lipoxygenase (nordihydroguaiaretic acid, phenidone, eicosatetraynoic acid, nafazatrom, compound BW 755C and caffeic acid). BW 755C and caffeic acid, a selective inhibitor of 5-lipoxygenase, had comparatively weak effects on the relaxation. Eicosatetraynoic acid, which probably does not inhibit C-5-lipoxygenase, completely reversed the effect of ACh. It is concluded that ACh relaxes strips of rabbit aorta by a mechanism in involving a non-cyclooxygenase metabolite of arachidonic acid of endothelial origin. This compound is probably not a product of C-5-lipoxygenase.     

Preservation of endothelium-dependent relaxation in cholesterol-fed and streptozotocin-induced diabetic mice by the chronic administration of cholestyramine.

1. Experiments were designed to investigate the effects of the low density lipoprotein (LDL)-lowering drugs cholestyramine on serum LDL levels and endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) in cholesterol-fed or streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic mice. 2. In aortic rings from control mice, ACh or A23187 caused concentration-dependent relaxation. The relaxations caused by ACh or A23187 were significantly attenuated in aortic rings from cholesterol-fed and STZ-diabetic mice. The attenuated vasodilatation in both cholesterol-fed and diabetic mice was returned to normal by chronic administration of cholestyramine. The endothelium-independent relaxations of aortic rings induced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were not significantly different between control, cholesterol-fed and STZ-induced diabetic mice. 3. The increased LDL levels in cholesterol-fed and diabetic mice were returned to normal by the chronic administration of cholestyramine. Chronic administration of cholestyramine had no effects on serum glucose levels. 4. These results suggest that attenuated endothelium-dependent vasodilatations in both cholesterol-fed and STZ-diabetic mice are improved by the chronic administration of cholestyramine, and these effects are, at least in part, due to lowering serum LDL levels.     

高浓度葡萄糖抑制兔胸主动脉内皮依赖的血管舒张(英文)

目的:研究高浓度葡萄糖是否能抑制兔胸主动脉内皮依赖的血管舒张以及可能的机制。方法:利用器官组织浴动脉环法测定血管张力,观察去除内皮、NO合酶抑制剂L-NMMA,不同浓度的葡萄糖对乙酰胆碱(ACh)产生的内皮依赖的和硝普钠(SNP)产生的非内皮依赖的血管舒张功能的影响以及维生素C和膜渗透性抗氧化剂MnTMPyP对高浓度葡萄糖作用的影响。结果:ACh和SNP均产生浓度依赖的血管舒张效应,高浓度葡萄糖明显抑制ACh产生的血管舒张,而对SNP的作用无明显影响,维生素C和MnTMPyP不能逆转高浓度葡萄糖对ACh产生的血管舒张的抑制作用。结论:高浓度葡萄糖抑制内皮依赖的血管舒张,这种作用不是通过增加氧自由基的产生介导的。     

高浓度葡萄糖抑制兔胸主动脉内依赖的血管舒张

目的：研究高浓度葡萄糖是否能抑制兔胸主动脉内皮依赖的血管舒张以及可能的机制。方法：利用器官组织浴动脉环法测定血管张力,观察去除内皮、NO合酶抑制剂L－NMMA,不同浓度的葡萄糖对乙酰胆碱（ACh)产生的内皮依赖的和硝普钠（SNP）产生的非内皮依赖的血管舒张功能的影响以及维生素C和膜渗透性抗氧化剂MnTMPyP对高浓度葡萄糖作用的影响。结果：ACh和SNP均产生浓度依赖的血管舒张效应,高浓度葡萄糖明显抑制ACh产生的血和舒张,而对SNP的作用无明显影响,维生素C和MnTMPyP不能逆转高浓度葡萄糖对ACh产生的血管舒张的抑制作用。结论：高浓度葡萄糖抑制内皮依赖的血管舒张,这种作用不是通过增加氧自由基的产生介导的。     

A specific inhibitor of nitric oxide formation from L-arginine attenuates endothelium-dependent relaxation

1. The role of L-arginine in the basal and stimulated generation of nitric oxide (NO) for endothelium-dependent relaxation was studied by use of NG-monomethyl L-arginine (L-NMMA), a specific inhibitor of this pathway. 2. L-Arginine (10-100 microM), but not D-arginine (100 microM), induced small but significant endothelium-dependent relaxations of rings of rabbit aorta. In contrast, L-NMMA (1-300 microM) produced small, endothelium-dependent contractions, while its enantiomer NG-monomethyl-D-arginine (D-NMMA; 100 microM) had no effect. 3. L-NMMA (1-300 microM) inhibited endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by acetylcholine (ACh), the calcium ionophore A23187, substance P or L-arginine without affecting the endothelium-independent relaxations induced by glyceryl trinitrate or sodium nitroprusside. 4. The inhibition of endothelium-dependent relaxation by L-NMMA (30 microM) was reversed by L-arginine (3-300 microM) but not by D-arginine (300 microM) or a number of close analogues (100 microM). 5. The release of NO induced by ACh from perfused segments of rabbit aorta was also inhibited by L-NMMA (3-300 microM), but not by D-NMMA (100 microM) and this effect of L-NMMA was reversed by L-arginine (3-300 microM). 6. These results support the proposal that L-arginine is the physiological precursor for the basal and stimulated generation of NO for endothelium-dependent relaxation.     

Effect of 5-hydroxytryptamine on the membrane potential of endothelial and smooth muscle cells in the pig coronary artery.

1. Many endothelium-dependent vasodilators hyperpolarize the endothelial cells in blood vessels. It is not known whether these hyperpolarizations are linked to nitric oxide synthesis or to an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing phenomenon, since most of the vasodilators release both factors. In this context, we first verified that the endothelium-dependent relaxations induced by 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) on pig coronary arteries are due only to the activation of the nitric oxide pathway. Then we studied the effects of 5-HT on membrane potential of endothelial and smooth muscle cells. 2. In the absence of endothelium, 5-HT caused a concentration-dependent contraction of coronary artery strips. No change of the smooth muscle cell membrane potential was observed during contraction to 1 microM 5-HT. 3. In the presence of 1 microM ketanserin to suppress the contractile effect of 5-HT, 5-HT induced concentration-dependent relaxation of endothelium-intact strips precontracted by 10 microM prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha). These relaxations were suppressed by 1 microM NG-nitro-L-arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, showing that they were produced predominantly by nitric oxide. 4. In the presence of 1 microM ketanserin, 1 microM 5-HT did not change the smooth muscle cell membrane potential of strips precontracted by either 10 microM PGF2 alpha or by 10 microM acetylcholine (ACh). In the same conditions, 1 microM 5-HT caused a weak 2.6 +/- 0.4 mV hyperpolarization, of the endothelial cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

ENDOTHELIUM-DEPENDENT AND-INDEPENDENT RELAXATION BY DOPAMINE IN THE RABBIT PULMONARY ARTERY

1. The relaxing response of dopamine (DA) was studied in the rabbit pulmonary artery. DA caused concentration-related relaxation in helically cut strips of the artery contracted with prostaglandin F2 alpha in the presence of prazosin. 2. The DA-induced relaxation in endothelium-denuded strips was reduced to about 40% compared with that in endothelium-intact strips. 3. Methylene blue and haemoglobin, inhibitors of endothelium-dependent relaxation, reduced the DA-induced relaxations in endothelium-intact strips to the level of endothelium-denuded strips. These results indicate that the DA-induced relaxation is partially mediated or modified by the release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). 4. Apomorphine, as a DA agonist, caused concentration-dependent relaxation in endothelium-intact strips. Bromocriptine, a DA2 agonist, produced only a little relaxation at higher concentration. 5. In endothelium-intact strips, haloperidol, a DA antagonist, and the DA1 antagonists, fluphenazine and SCH 23390 inhibited DA-induced relaxations. On the other hand spiperone and domperidone, DA2 antagonists, were inactive. 6. In endothelium-denuded strips, fluphenazine and SCH 23390 inhibited DA-induced relaxations, but domperidone was inactive. 7. These results indicate that the DA-induced relaxation is mediated by DA receptors, and that DA1 receptors are involved in both endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation in the rabbit pulmonary artery.     

Effects of some inorganic divalent cations and protein kinase C inhibitors on endothelium-dependent relaxation in rat isolated aorta and mesenteric arteries.

The effects of nitrendipine and several metal ions possessing Ca2+ antagonistic activity were examined on acetylcholine (ACh) and histamine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations in norepinephrine (NE)-precontracted rat aortic rings and perfused mesenteric arteries. Nitrendipine (1 nM) profoundly attenuated ACh and histamine-induced relaxations of perfused mesenteric arteries but was ineffective against either agonist in aorta. The transition metal ions Co2+, Mn2+, and Ni2+, but not the nontransition ions (Cd2+, Sn2+, and Zn2+), markedly inhibited ACh and histamine relaxations in the aorta, whereas all metal ions antagonized KCl contractions. At the highest concentration devoid of effect on arterial perfusion pressure, none of the transition metal ions altered endothelium-dependent relaxations in the mesenteric arteries. Endothelium-independent relaxations induced by sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were attenuated by Mn2+ but not by Co2+ or Ni2+. Calmidazolium or W-7 inhibited ACh- and histamine-induced relaxations in both aorta and mesenteric arteries, whereas staurosporine and H-7 were ineffective against aortic relaxations; in mesenteric arteries, staurosporine but not H-7 attenuated both endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxations. We conclude (a) that the transition metal ions most likely inhibit endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) (NO) release in the aorta through endothelial receptor-operated Ca2+ channels; (b) that the effects of nitrendipine (shared by nifedipine) in mesenteric arteries result from an interaction with a site that may have structural similarities with, but is distinct from, the L-type Ca2+ channel; and (c) that the inhibitory effects of the calmodulin antagonists may reflect an action on endothelial NO synthase.     

Inhibition by diethylcarbamazine of acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation of rabbit aorta: are leukotrienes involved?

Acetylcholine caused relaxations of preconstricted rabbit aortic strips if the endothelium was intact. These relaxations were reversed in a concentration-dependent manner by diethylcarbamazine, an inhibitor of slow-reacting substance and leukotriene formation. However, when exogenous leukotrienes (LTA4, LTB4, LTC4 and LTD4) were added to the precontracted arterial strips none of them caused relaxation, showing that they are unlikely to be involved as mediators in the acetylcholine-induced relaxation of rabbit aorta.     

The involvement of the endothelium in the relaxation of the leopard frog (Rana pipiens) aorta in response to acetylcholine.

1. The vasodilator response to acetylcholine (ACh) was investigated in the aortic arches of the leopard frog (Rana pipiens). 2. With adrenaline pre-constricted preparations, both ACh and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) caused concentration-dependent relaxations. Damage to the endothelial layer abolished relaxations to ACh, or reduced them greatly, but had no effect on vasodilatation to SNP. 3. NG-Nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME; 1-100 microM) concentration-dependently inhibited relaxations in response to ACh, but had no effect on the ability of SNP to induce vasodilatation. 4. L-Arginine (L-Arg; 100-200 times the concentration of L-NAME) failed to reverse the inhibitory effect of L-NAME (1-100 microM) apart from one isolated instance. 5. In summary, this study has shown endothelium-dependent vasodilatation to ACh in an amphibian blood vessel that appears to be mediated via nitric oxide (NO). The response to ACh differs from many mammalian preparations in that the inhibitory effect of L-NAME could not be overcome by L-Arg, in addition to L-NAME itself having no direct effect upon the tone of the vessel.     

Selective inhibition by gossypol of endothelium-dependent relaxations augments relaxations to glyceryl trinitrate in rabbit coeliac artery.

1 Acetylcholine, substance P, prostaglandin E1 and the nitrovasodilator glyceryl trinitrate induced concentration-dependent relaxations of endothelium-intact strips of rabbit coeliac artery precontracted with noradrenaline. 2 Endothelium-denuded strip preparations contracted to acetylcholine and showed no response to substance P. The relaxant response to prostaglandin E1 was unimpaired after removal of endothelium, whereas the response to glyceryl trinitrate was increased. 3 A 20 min exposure of endothelium-intact strips to gossypol, an irreversible inhibitor of the production and/or release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor, abolished vasodilatation in response to the endothelium-dependent agents acetylcholine and substance P, did not change relaxations to prostaglandin E1, but significantly enhanced relaxations in response to glyceryl trinitrate. 4 In view of the assumed common mechanism of action of endothelium-derived relaxing factor and nitrovasodilators, these results suggest an interference of the two active principles at the level of the vascular smooth muscle cell.     

Inhibition by lipoxygenase products of TXA2-like responses of platelets and vascular smooth muscle. 14-Hydroxy from 22:6n-3 is more potent than 12-HETE

Lipoxygenase products, which are formed in great amounts in platelets during their activation, have been prepared from arachidonic acid (20:4n-6), the main polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA) esterified in platelet phospholipids, and from two major PUFAs of fish fat, eicosapentaenoic (20:5n-3) and docosahexaenoic (22:6n-3) acids. These compounds have been synthesized using platelet suspension as enzymic source, purified by high performance liquid chromatography, and their structure were checked by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry. Their effects were investigated in vitro upon human platelet aggregation induced by 11,9-epoxy-methano-analogue of PGH2 (U-46619) and upon thromboxane A2-induced vasoconstriction of rabbit aorta. All hydroxylated fatty acids inhibited U-46619-induced aggregation in a concentration-dependent fashion. Compounds issued from 22:6n-3 were the most potent inhibitors and their IC50 differed significantly from that of 12-hydroxy-eicosatetraenoic acid (12-HETE). Among them, 14-hydroxy-docosahexaenoic acid (14-OH-22:6) was the most effective anti-aggregating molecule (IC50:0.45 microM). 10 microM 12-HETE and 14-OH-22:6 inhibited 60% and 75% of smooth muscle contraction induced by TXA2-like material, respectively. At 1 microM, solely 14-OH-22:6 had an inhibitory effect on adrenaline-, angiotensine- or histamine-induced contraction. Since thromboxane receptors in platelets and vascular smooth muscle cells present strong similarities, it is concluded that hydroxylated fatty acids can antagonize prostanoid action probably by interfering with their receptor sites.