Biomedical subjects

R Andriantsitohaina

Publications and source records attributed to R Andriantsitohaina.

51 records · Page 3Linked to original sources

PubMed1996

Calcium handling and purinoceptor subtypes involved in ATP-induced contraction in rat small mesenteric arteries.

1. The relationship between the stimulation of ATP receptors, the increase in intracellular free calcium concentration ([Ca2+]i; measured using the fluorescent indicator fura-2), contraction and the subtypes of purinoceptors involved were investigated in the small mesenteric artery of the rat. 2. In normal physiological solution, ATP (0.001-3 mM) caused concentration-dependent increases in both [Ca2+]i and contraction. Both responses produced by ATP (1 mM) were inhibited by 50% in the presence of nitrendipine (1 microM) and were abolished in the presence of nitrendipine plus SK&F 96365 (30 microM). 3. In Ca(2+)-free medium, ATP (3 mM) elicited a transient increase in both [Ca2+]i and tension which were abolished by caffeine and decreased by 65% by thapsigargin (1 microM). Moreover, ATP (1 and 3 mM) produced increases in the [3H]D-myo-inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate ([3H]IP3) content of vessels in a concentration-dependent manner. 4. Treatment of the vessels with Bordetella pertussis toxin (PTX) inhibited contractions to ATP linked to the influx of calcium through nitrendipine-sensitive mechanisms, but not those linked to the release of Ca2+ from intracellular stores nor the capacity of ATP in increasing IP3 content of the vessels. 5. The order of potency of ATP and its analogues in eliciting contraction was alpha, beta-methylene-ATP (alpha, beta-MeATP) > 2-methylthio-ATP (2-MeSATP) > ATP = ADP. The response to ATP was inhibited by suramin. Reactive Blue 2 (up to 100 microM) did not affect the contractile response to ATP. Pyridoxal-phosphate-6-azophenyl-2',4'-disulphonic acid 4-sodium (PPADS) and alpha, beta-MeATP abolished the response to low concentrations of ATP and reduced contractions elicited by high concentrations of ATP. 6. After blockade of P2X-purinoceptors with PPADS, the order of potency of ATP and its analogues was 2-MeSATP > ATP = ADP. UTP produced concentration-dependent contractions which were not affected by suramin, Reactive Blue 2, PPADS or alpha, beta-MeATP, suggesting the presence of P2U-purinoceptors. 7. The results suggest that low concentrations of ATP activate P2X-purinoceptors and produce an influx of calcium through both voltage-dependent calcium channels sensitive to nitrendipine and through receptor-operated calcium channels sensitive to SK&F 96365. High concentrations of ATP activate P2Y-purinoceptors which promote firstly a nitrendipine-sensitive calcium influx via a PTX-sensitive G protein and secondly a release of Ca2+ from an internal source via the production of IP3.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1996

Use of human vessels and human vascular smooth muscle cells in pharmacology.

Relatively limited information is available regarding the mechanisms controlling vasomotricity in human vessels. Isolated vessels obtained from patients undergoing surgery were used to characterize the role of endothelial factors and to study coupling mechanisms between receptors, intracellular calcium, and contraction. However, these investigations are limited by the availability of tissues and many uncontrolled factors. Cultured human vascular cells were also used, but these cells rapidly lose at least some of their differentiated characters. Recently, a human blood vessel equivalent was constructed in vitro from cultured cells, using tissue engineering. This technique allowed us to obtain vessel equivalents containing intima, media, and adventitia layers or tubular media layer only. Contraction and rises in intracellular calcium produced by agonists were studied, indicating that such human vessel equivalents may provide valuable models for pharmacological studies.

Calcium↗

PubMed1996

Influence of indomethacin on the haemodynamic effects of lipopolysaccharide in rats.

This study was undertaken to evaluate the influence of the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin on the time course of the haemodynamic effects of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) intravenous infusion (10 mg.kg-1.h-1) in anaesthetized rats. LPS infusion produced a rapid (within 10 min) and prolonged (over the 90 min observation period) fall in mean arterial blood pressure (MABP) and a decrease in the pressor responses to noradrenaline (NA, 0.1, 0.3 and 1 microgram.kg-1, intravenously [i.v.]) elicited 60 and 90 min after the onset of LPS infusion. Indomethacin (7 mg.kg-1 i.v. 30 min prior to the onset of saline or LPS infusion), which by itself did not affect basal MABP nor reactivity to NA in control rats, significantly attenuated the fall in MABP observed within 20 min after the onset of LPS infusion (but did not significantly modify the hypotension observed between 30 and 90 min). Indomethacin also completely prevented the hyporeactivity to NA observed 60 min after the onset of LPS infusion, but it did so only partially at 90 min. Aortic rings removed from LPS or LPS + indomethacin-treated rats showed an identical profile of contractile reactivity (hyporesponsiveness to NA, relaxation to L-arginine, and restoration of the contractile response by methylene blue). These results suggest that in this model, cyclooxygenase products are involved in the early haemodynamic effects of LPS. However, they do not seem to play an obligatory role in the onset of longer term haemodynamic changes.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1996

Alteration by lipopolysaccharide of the relationship between intracellular calcium levels and contraction in rat mesenteric artery.

1. The aim of this work was to investigate the effect of lipopolysaccharide (LPS) treatment on the relationship between the cytosolic Ca2+ ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) and contraction in rat resistance arteries, and the involvement of the L-arginine-nitric oxide (NO)-guanosine 3'-5' cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP) pathway in these effects. 2. [Ca2+]i and tension were simultaneously recorded in small mesenteric arteries removed from rats 4 h after intraperitoneal injection of E. coli LPS (30 mg kg-1) or solvent. Cyclic GMP was assayed in vessels submitted to identical treatments. 3. Basal [Ca2+]i was higher in vessels from LPS-treated rats compared to controls. LPS did not modify the concentration-contraction curve of noradrenaline. However, the increase in basal [Ca2+]i produced by LPS resulted in a shift of the noradrenaline [Ca2+]i-contraction curve to higher [Ca2+]i concentrations. 4. L-Arginine (300 microM) relaxed noradrenaline (10 microM) pre-contracted arteries from LPS-treated but not from control rats. This effect of L-arginine was reversed by two inhibitors of NO synthase: N omega-nitro-L-arginine-methyl-ester (L-NAME, 1 mM) and S-methyl-isothiourea (SMT, 0.1 mM). Both the relaxing effect of L-arginine and its reversal by L-NAME or SMT occurred without any change in [Ca2+]i. 5. LPS treatment did not modify the cyclic GMP content of the small mesenteric arteries. In arteries removed from LPS-treated rats but not from controls, addition of L-arginine (300 microM) was associated with a significant increase in cyclic GMP content, an effect which was prevented by both L-NAME (1 mM) and SMT (0.1 mM). 6. L-NAME (1 mM) produced a greater reduction in cyclic GMP content than SMT (0.1 mM) in control vessels exposed to L-arginine (300 microM). Under the same conditions, SMT produced a larger decrease in cyclic GMP level than L-NAME in arteries taken from LPS-treated rats, consistent with selective inhibition by SMT of the inducible NO-synthase after LPS. 7. These results show that LPS produced two effects in small mesenteric arteries: (i) alterations in Ca2+ handling and a decreased sensitivity of myofilaments to Ca2+, (ii) induction of NO-synthase activity resulting in exogenous L-arginine-dependent production of NO and cyclic GMP accumulation. Both effects are likely to be involved in the hyporeactivity induced by LPS in resistance arteries.

Analysis of Variance↗

PubMed1996

Alterations of cyclo-oxygenase products and NO in responses to angiotensin II of resistance arteries from the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

1. The involvement of cyclo-oxygenase (COX) products and nitric oxide (NO) in contractile responses of resistance arteries to angiotensin II (AII) were investigated in small mesenteric arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats. 2. In endothelium intact vessels, AII induced concentration-dependent responses without any significant difference between the two strains. However, removal of functional endothelium resulted in enhanced sensitivity to AII, the pD2 value increasing from 8.4 +/- 0.2 to 8.9 +/- 0.2 (P < 0.05) in WKY and from 8.2 +/- 0.1 to 8.6 +/- 0.1 (P < 0.05) in SHR (not significantly different between strains, n = 9 - 12). In addition, endothelium removal enhanced maximal contractions elicited by AII in SHR (1.4 +/- 0.1 to 2.1 +/- 0.2 mN mm-1, n = 5; P < 0.05) but not in WKY (1.0 +/- 0.1 to 1.2 +/- 0.1 mN mm-1, n = 5) vessels. 3. In the absence of functional endothelium, the COX inhibitor indomethacin (10(-5) M) reduced contractile responses elicited by AII in SHR arteries, resulting in 33 +/- 5% (n = 5) decrease in maximal contraction. However, it produced minimal if any, effect on responses of WKY vessels. In both strains, the TP receptor antagonist GR32191 B (3 x 10(-6) M) did not modify contractions elicited by AII in these conditions. 4. In the presence of functional endothelium, indomethacin (10(-5) M) almost abolished the responses to AII in both strains. GR32191 B (3 x 10(-6) M) reduced the sensitivity of WKY arteries to AII (pD2 = 8.1 +/- 0.1, P < 0.01) without any effect on maximal contraction. In SHR arteries, it markedly reduced maximal contraction (47 +/- 3.5%). 5. In both strains, the NO synthase inhibitor NG-nitro-L-arginine methy lester (L-NAME; 10(-4) M) had no effect in the absence of functional endothelium but it markedly reduced the inhibitory influence of endothelium on contractile responses to AII. Furthermore, in arteries with endothelium, it reduced the effect of both indomethacin and GR32191 B to the same level as observed in vessels without functional endothelium. 6. The results suggest that enhanced contraction caused by COX products was counteracted by enhanced relaxation caused by endothelium-derived NO in resistance mesenteric arteries of the SHR exposed to AII, compared to WKY arteries. The COX products involved in alterations of SHR responses comprised an endothelium-derived prostaglandin activating TP receptors and another nonendothelial unidentified vasoconstrictor compound which did not activate these receptors.

Angiotensin II↗

PubMed1995

Effects of cGMP on calcium handling in ATP-stimulated rat resistance arteries.

The mechanisms by which guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) modulates the contraction induced by ATP were investigated in small mesenteric resistance arteries of the rat. The nitric oxide donors 3-morpholinosydnonimine (SIN-1, 10 microM) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 10 microM) increased cGMP but not adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) content of the tissue. SIN-1, SNP, and 8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (8-BrcGMP, 100 microM) inhibited the myosin light chain phosphorylation and the contractile response to ATP. Both effects were completely reversed by the selective inhibitor of cGMP protein kinase, Rp-8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate (30 microM). The sensitivity to Ca2+ of arteries permeabilized with Staphylococcus aureus alpha-toxin (4,000 hemolytic units/ml) was not affected by 8-BrcGMP. The two nitric oxide donors and 8-BrcGMP decreased the rise in intracellular Ca2+ induced by ATP. The vasodilator agents abolished the contractile response to the exogenous calcium in vessels that were exposed to 3 mM ATP after depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores. Thapsigargin (1 microM), an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-adenosinetriphosphatase, reversed the inhibitory effect of the vasodilator agents when the contraction induced by ATP was elicited in the presence of the Ca2+ entry blocker nitrendipine (1 microM) or in Ca(2+)-free medium. These results show that cGMP inhibits ATP-induced contraction by decreasing intracellular Ca2+ concentration in small resistance arteries. They indicate that this effect results from decreased Ca2+ influx and enhanced Ca2+ sequestration through a thapsigargin-sensitive pump via activation of a cGMP protein kinase.

Adenosine Triphosphate↗

PubMed1992

Acetylcholine released from guinea-pig submucosal neurones dilates arterioles by releasing nitric oxide from endothelium.

1. The role of the endothelium as an effector of the neurogenic cholinergic vasodilatation in submucosal arterioles of the guinea-pig ileum was investigated by measuring changes in arteriolar diameter in response to exogenous application of muscarine or electrical stimulation of the submucosal ganglia. 2. NG-Monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthesis, competitively inhibited the vasodilatation produced by muscarine in arterioles which had been preconstricted with the prostaglandin analogue U46619. L-Arginine (10 mM), but not D-arginine (10 mM), prevented the inhibition by L-NMMA. 3. Neither tetrodotoxin (TTX, 1 microM), nor the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, indomethacin (10 microM), altered the muscarinic vasodilatation or the inhibitory effect of L-NMMA. 4. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an activator of the soluble guanylate cyclase, dilated the arterioles in a concentration-dependent manner. This vasodilatation was unaffected by L-NMMA but was abolished by the guanylate cyclase inhibitor, methylene blue (10 microM). In addition, methylene blue antagonized the muscarinic vasodilatation to a similar degree as did L-NMMA. 5. The vasodilatation produced by ganglionic stimulation (10 Hz, 10 s) was blocked by TTX and the muscarinic receptor antagonist, 4-diphenylacetoxy-N-methyl-piperidine methiodide (4-DAMP, 1 microM). The neurally evoked vasodilatation was inhibited by 70% in the presence of L-NMMA; this inhibition was prevented by L-arginine. Methylene blue inhibited the neurogenic vasodilatation to the same extent as did L-NMMA. 6. These results show that arteriolar vasodilatation by muscarine is mediated mainly through the release of NO formed from L-arginine; the origin of the L-arginine appears to be the endothelium. These results also demonstrate that acetylcholine released from submucosal nerves onto submucosal blood vessels reaches the endothelium to cause the release of NO formed from L-arginine; the endothelial-derived NO dilates the arteriole.

Acetylcholine↗

PubMed1991

Characterisation of cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterases from rat mesenteric artery.

Four cyclic nucleotide phosphodiesterase activities (PDEs) could be resolved from rat mesenteric artery by DEAE-Sephacel chromatography: a calmodulin-activated fraction, a cyclic GMP-inhibited fraction, a cyclic AMP-specific rolipram-sensitive fraction and a cyclic GMP-specific fraction containing PDE I, III, IV and V. Cardiotonic drugs (CI 930 and LY 195115) selectively inhibited PDE III; rolipram and zaprinast selectively inhibited PDE IV and PDE V, respectively. These results show that the rat mesenteric artery contains the same PDEs as previously found in the aorta, and suggest that these PDEs may be implicated in the regulation of arterial contraction.

Animals↗

PubMed1991

Role of endothelium on the effects of neuropeptide Y in mesenteric resistance arteries of spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar-Kyoto normotensive rats.

The role of the endothelium in the effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and norepinephrine was investigated in mesenteric resistance arteries of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) and of the normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rat (WKY). Endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (1 microM) was reduced in arteries of SHR compared with WKY. In the presence of the endothelium, the vessels of the two strains responded similarly to norepinephrine and NPY (100 nM) produced only a slight contraction. After removal of the endothelium, the response to norepinephrine was greater in WKY than in SHR. Furthermore, endothelium denudation enhanced markedly contraction elicited by NPY in WKY (up to 40% of the maximal effect of norepinephrine), but not in SHR. NPY potentiated the contractile response to low concentrations of norepinephrine (less than 300 nM) in both strains regardless whether the endothelium was intact or not. These results indicate that the contractile responses to NPY and to norepinephrine are inhibited by the endothelium in vessels of WKY, but not in those of the SHR. Furthermore, the potentiating effect of NPY occurs via an endothelium-independent mechanism in mesenteric arteries of both SHR and WKY. It is proposed that the differential responses between the two strains are related to abnormal function of the endothelium and to decreased responsiveness of smooth muscle cells in mesenteric resistance arteries of SHR compared to WKY.

Animals↗

PubMed1990

Enhancement by neuropeptide Y (NPY) of the dihydropyridine-sensitive component of the response to alpha 1-adrenoceptor stimulation in rat isolated mesenteric arterioles.

1. The mechanism by which neuropeptide Y (NPY) potentiates the vasoconstriction induced by alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonists was investigated in 3rd generation mesenteric arterioles of the rat. 2. At a maximally active concentration, nitrendipine (10(-6) M) displaced to the right the concentration-response curves to noradrenaline (pD2 decreased from 6.2 +/- 0.06 to 5.7 +/- 0.03) and phenylephrine (pD2 decreased from 5.6 +/- 0.03 to 5.3 +/- 0.03). Diltiazem (10(-5) M) also shifted to the right the concentration-response curve to phenylephrine (pD2 decreased from 6.0 +/- 0.06 to 5.5 +/- 0.04). In addition, the maximal response to phenylephrine was significantly decreased in the presence of either nitrendipine or diltiazem. 3. In the absence of a calcium channel blocking agent, NPY (100 nM) produced a leftward shift of the concentration-response curves to noradrenaline (pD2 increased from 6.2 +/- 0.06 to 6.5 +/- 0.05) and phenylephrine (pD2 increased from 5.6 +/- 0.03 to 6.0 +/- 0.06 and from 6.0 +/- 0.06 to 6.3 +/- 0.11). In the presence of either nitrendipine (10(-6) M) or diltiazem (10(-5) M), NPY (100 nM) did not alter the concentration-response curves to either noradrenaline or phenylephrine. 4. NPY was added to arterioles brought to the same level of tension (40% of the maximal contraction) either by phenylephrine alone (1.5 x 10(-6) M) or by a higher concentration of phenylephrine (3 x 10(-6) M) followed by the addition of prazosin (1.3 x 10(-9) M; a concentration at which it partially blocks alpha 1-adrenoceptors). In these conditions, the response to phenylephrine was completely abolished by nitrendipine (10-6 M) or by diltiazem (10-5M). Furthermore, NPY (10-1" to 10-7M) increased the arteriolar tension up to the maximal contractile capacity of the vessels with pD2 values of 8.6 + 0.02 and 8.7 + 0.01, in the absence and presence of prazosin, respectively. 5. Prazosin was replaced in the above protocol by other vasodilator agents acting through different mechanisms. Whether in the presence of 2 x 10-7M forskolin, 6 x 10-7M sodium nitroprusside (which stimulate adenylate cyclase or guanylate cyclase, respectively) or 2 x 10- 7M diltiazem (a concentration at which calcium entry is partially blocked), NPY enhanced phenylephrine-induced contraction to the maximum level with an identical potency (pD2 values of the peptide ranged from 8.3 to 8.7). 6. The results show that, in rat mesenteric arterioles, NPY potentiates only the calcium entry blockersensitive component of contraction induced by stimulation of alpha,-adrenoceptors. In addition, they provide evidence that the peptide counteracts with an equal potency the inhibitory effect of partial block of alpha,-adrenoceptors and of relaxing agents acting through different mechanisms. It is suggested that NPY enhances calcium entry induced by stimulation of alpha l-adrenoceptors in this tissue.

Adrenergic alpha-Agonists↗

PubMed1990

Pertussis toxin abolishes the effect of neuropeptide Y on rat resistance arteriole contraction.

Pertussis toxin (PTX) was used to investigate the possible involvement of a G protein in the mechanism of action of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on rat mesenteric arterioles. ADP ribosylation of membrane protein was assessed by gel electrophoresis followed by autoradiography. The effect of NPY was studied on contractions elicited either by addition of calcium to depolarized vessels or by the calcium agonist BAY K 8644. Under conditions in which PTX ADP-ribosylated a 40-41 kDa protein, the potentiation of contractions induced by NPY in both protocols was abolished. In contrast, the contraction induced by norepinephrine was unaffected by PTX. It is concluded that a G protein mediates the potentiating effect of NPY on external calcium-dependent contractions in rat mesenteric arterioles.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗

PubMed1988

Potentiation by neuropeptide Y of vasoconstriction in rat resistance arteries.

1. The effects of neuropeptide Y (NPY) on resistance arteries were investigated on 3rd generation mesenteric arterioles of the rat. 2. Contractions were elicited by noradrenaline (NA), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), prostaglandin F2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), depolarization (KCl substituted for NaCl) and by the calcium agonist Bay K 8644, in the absence and in the presence of NPY (100 nM), a concentration which by itself did not induce vasoconstriction. 3. NPY produced a leftward shift of the concentration-response curves to the agonists and to KCl, without any alteration of maximal contractions. 4. NPY also potentiated contractions elicited by addition of CaCl2 to KCl-depolarized vessels, but its effect on calcium-induced contractions decreased with increasing KCl concentrations (from 20 to 100 mM). 5. Calcium-induced contractions were inhibited by the calcium channel blocker nitrendipine, both in the presence and absence of NPY (100 nM). NPY increased slightly (but significantly) the sensitivity to nitrendipine (the apparent KB increased from 2.9 x 10(-10) M to 1.6 x 10(-10) M). 6. The KCl concentration necessary for the maximal effect of Bay K 8644 was decreased in the presence of NPY, and the sensitivity to the calcium channel agonist was increased. 7. Elevating the KCl concentration in the bath from 5 to 20 mM (which gives the same displacement to the left of the KCl concentration-effect curve seen in the presence of NPY) induced a parallel leftward shift of NA and 5-HT concentration-response curves. This shift was identical to the one induced by NPY on 5-HT-evoked contractions, but it was significantly smaller (P less than 0.001) than the shift of the NA concentration-response curve observed in the presence of NPY. In the latter case, NPY enhanced more markedly the contractions induced by low NA concentrations (between 10(-9) and 3 x 10(-8 M) than those induced by high concentrations (up to 3 x 10(-7) M), thus giving a shallow concentration-response curve. 8. The results strongly suggest that NPY partially depolarizes the arterioles and induces an increase in calcium entry through voltage-dependent channels, thus enhancing contractions elicited by agonists or by KCl-depolarization. In addition, they support the view that another mechanism also plays a part in the potentiation by NPY of the effects of low concentrations of NA.

3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethy↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Effect of lipopolysaccharide treatment on neurogenic contraction and noradrenaline release in rat arteries.

In the present study, contractile responses and [3H]-noradrenaline overflow evoked by electrical field stimulation were assessed, respectively, in the small mesenteric artery and in tail artery removed from rats pre-treated with either saline or lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In small mesenteric arteries, LPS treatment did not significantly modify the contractile responses elicited by electrical stimulation, in the absence or in the presence of L-arginine. However, in arteries removed from rats treated with LPS, L-arginine addition produced relaxation of vessels pre-contracted with noradrenaline. The amplification of neurogenic contraction by the nitric oxide (NO) synthase inhibitor Nomega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) was similar in arteries removed from saline and LPS-infused rats. In mesenteric arteries, LPS treatment suppressed the potentiation of the neurogenic responses by the alpha2-adrenoceptor antagonist, yohimbine and by the inhibitor of neuronal uptake of noradrenaline, cocaine. In rat tail artery exposed to L-arginine, LPS treatment produced an increase in [3H]-noradrenaline overflow evoked by electrical stimulation. Altogether, these data suggest that an enhanced noradrenaline release from sympathetic nerves, probably resulting from inhibition of the modulatory effect of both prejunctional alpha2-adrenoceptors and neuronal uptake mechanism, may play a role in the preservation of neurogenic response after LPS treatment despite evidence of the induction of NO synthase.

Adrenergic alpha-Antagonists↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Neuropeptide Y increases force development through a mechanism that involves calcium entry in resistance arteries.

The hypothesis that neuropeptide Y (NPY) potentiates noradrenaline (NA)-induced vascular force development by increasing free intracellular Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was tested in rat mesenteric resistance arteries. NPY (100 nM) alone was not able to increase either the contraction or [Ca2+]i. However, pretreatment of mesenteric resistance arteries with 100 nM NPY potentiated both [Ca2+]i and active stress induced by 1.5 microM NA. Addition of 100 nM NPY to vessels that had been precontracted with NA (1.5 microM) elicited a large increase in [Ca2+]i and an increase in active stress development. In Ca(2+)-free medium containing 2 mM ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether) N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid, the potentiating effect of NPY on the NA-induced contraction was prevented, and readdition of Ca2+ resulted in a large increase in both [Ca2+]i and active stress development. It is concluded that NPY potentiates NA-induced contraction in the isolated mesenteric resistance artery by inducing a rise in [Ca2+]i through an influx of Ca2 from the extracellular source.

Animals↗

PubMedDate not supplied

Role of endothelial nitric oxide in the response to angiotensin II of small mesenteric arteries of the rat.

The role of endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) in the vascular contractile response to angiotensin II (Ang II) has been investigated in isolated small mesenteric resistance arteries of the rat. Both contraction and intracellular Ca2+ ion concentration ([Ca2+]i) were monitored in vessels, with and without functional endothelium, which were exposed to physiological salt solution containing 25 mM KCl. Ang II induced concentration-dependent contractile responses and increases in [Ca2+]i which, at the concentration giving the maximal response (10 nM), were not sustained in arteries with functional endothelium; however, the presence of a functional endothelium did not modify the peak responses. Ang II did not increase the cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate content of the tissue nor did it induce relaxation in arteries precontracted with 3 microM noradrenaline. The decline of the Ang II responses was suppressed by removal of the endothelium or by exposure of arteries with endothelium to either the NO synthase inhibitor, N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (300 microM), or the cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, Rp-8-bromoguanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphorothioate (30 microM). On the other hand, the NO donor SIN-1 (3-morpholino-sydnonimine, 10 microM) accelerated the decline in [Ca2+]i and contraction. These results show that endothelium-derived NO does not affect the magnitude of the phasic element of the response to Ang II, but is involved in the rapid attenuation of the tonic component. Activation of cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase accounts for this effect of endothelium-derived NO.

Acetylcholine↗