Vasopressin causes endothelium-dependent relaxations of the canine basilar artery

Comparison of the inhibitory effects of antithrombin III, alpha 2-macroglobulin, and thrombin in human basilar arteries: relevance to cerebral vasospasm

Isolated human basilar arteries were used in this study to evaluate the inhibitory effect of antithrombin III (AT III), thrombin, and alpha 2-macroglobulin (alpha 2-M) on contractions elicited by K+, serotonin (5-HT), prostaglandin (PG) D2, PGF2 alpha, and plasmin. alpha 2-M (0.5-1.0 mg/ml) failed to affect the contractions produced by contractile agonists significantly but did notably reduce the basal tone of the arteries. Thrombin (1 and 10 U/ml) reduced basal tone and significantly inhibited the contractions elicited by K+, PGF2 alpha, and plasmin. The relaxant effect of thrombin was abolished by procedures that destroy endothelium and by exposing the artery to thrombin for prolonged periods (tachyphylaxis). AT III (1-6 U/ml) reduced basal tone and significantly inhibited, in a concentration-dependent manner, the contractile responses to K+, 5-HT, PGD2, PGF2 alpha, and plasmin. In sharp contrast to thrombin, AT III did not induce tachyphylaxis nor was its vasorelaxant effect significantly reduced by destruction of the endothelium. The results show AT III to be a potent and nonspecific inhibitor of human cerebral arteries and support the hypothesis that AT III may contribute to the delay of cerebral vasospasm seen in patients who experience aneurysmal hemorrhage.

Autoradiographic analysis of receptors on vascular endothelium

Receptor autoradiography was used to examine the distribution of muscarinic cholinoceptors ([3H]QNB), alpha 2-adrenoceptors ([3H]rauwolscine), beta-adrenoceptors ([125I]CYP) and substance P receptors ([125I]BHSP) in rabbit aorta, pulmonary artery, rat aorta, dog aorta, splenic, renal and coronary arteries, bovine aorta and coronary arteries. Muscarinic cholinoceptors and alpha 2-adrenoceptors were not associated with endothelium in any of the blood vessels examined. Substance P receptors were found on endothelium in dog renal but not bovine coronary arteries, and beta-adrenoceptors were found on endothelium in dog coronary arteries but not bovine aorta. The results suggest that endothelium-dependent relaxation can result either from activation of receptors located directly on the endothelial cells or, as is the case for ACh, by an indirect mechanism via activation of receptors located on the vascular smooth muscle.

Effect of 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) on coronary artery constriction in isolated rabbit hearts

The vasodilator 8-bromo-guanosine 3':5'-monophosphate (8-bromo-cGMP) effectively counteracts vasopressin-induced coronary artery constriction in a supported perfused working rabbit heart. In this preparation, the coronary arteries remain in contact with the beating heart. The obtuse marginal artery and portions of the left anterior descending coronary artery were deprived of endothelium. Perfusion was carried out with Krebs-Henseleit solution, oxygenated with a disposable infant oxygenator. The internal diameter of large coronary arteries was determined by color arteriography (injection of patent blue dye and gated photography). The effect of vasopressin with and without the addition of 8-bromo-cGMP on cardiac performance (cardiac output, left ventricular systolic pressure, left ventricular end-diastolic pressure, maximal rate of rise in left ventricular pressure [dP/dtmax], mean aortic pressure) and large coronary vessel and total coronary vascular resistance was determined in nine experiments. In addition, changes in coronary sinus partial pressure of carbon dioxide (PCO2) and pH were observed. Vasopressin alone caused a significant decline in coronary flow, myocardial oxygen consumption and coronary sinus pH. Cardiac performance declined, probably because of myocardial ischemia. Large coronary vessel and total coronary vascular resistance rose. The vasodilator 8-bromo-cGMP strongly inhibited the vasoconstrictor action of vasopressin, counteracted the increase in large and total coronary vascular resistance, prevented the fall in myocardial oxygen consumption and eliminated changes in pH or PCO2 of coronary sinus effluent. Because of the elimination of myocardial ischemia by 8-bromo-cGMP, cardiac performance was normalized.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Factors contributing to the maintenance of arterial blood pressure in adult rats treated neonatally with guanethidine

Adult rats treated neonatally with guanethidine had normal arterial blood pressures, but these were more dependent on the renin-angiotensin system than in control animals. Antagonism of V1-receptors (with d(CH2)5DAVP) enhanced the depressor effects of captopril in guanethidine-treated animals, but blood pressure was unaffected by this manoeuvre in control animals. Although there is evidence that sympathetic efferent vasomotor function is abolished following the schedule of neonatal guanethidine treatment used, pentolinium had a hypotensive effect in the presence of d(CH2)5DAVP and captopril, indicating that the adrenal medulla could have been contributing to the maintenance of blood pressure. This is consistent with the finding of marked supersensitivity to exogenous adrenaline in guanethidine-treated rats.

The relaxant effects of atrial natriuretic factor on vascular smooth muscle

Extracts prepared from rat atria, which cause natriuresis and diuresis when injected into bioassay rats, relax aortic smooth muscle preparations. A family of atrial peptides has been isolated, purified and synthesized which elicit similar biological responses as the atrial extracts. The in vitro vasodilator profile of synthetic atrial natriuretic factor (sANF) exhibits many similarities to sodium nitroprusside including inhibition of agonist-induced but not high-K+-induced contractions, relaxation independent of the vascular endothelium and elevation of cyclic GMP in aortic smooth muscle coincident with relaxation. Aortic rings remain relaxed in the presence of sANF but can be recontracted following a sufficient washout period. sANF causes a significant activation of the particulate (but not soluble) form of guanylate cyclase which is seemingly consistent with the presence of high affinity receptors for sANF in plasma membranes prepared from aortic tissue. Both species and regional vascular differences exist for the vasodilator activity of the synthetic atrial peptides.

The role of endothelium in the control of vascular tone

In the last few years, experimental evidence has accumulated which suggests a substantial role for the endothelium in the control of vascular tone. Endothelium-dependent dilatations have been demonstrated in various arteries of numerous mammalian species including man. Among the stimuli which elicit endothelium-dependent dilatation are such varying stimuli as increases in blood flow and hypoxia, as well as endogenous (acetylcholine, ATP, ADP, bradykinin, substance P) and pharmacological agents (calcium ionophore A 23187, ergometrine, hydralazine, melittin). The functional importance of endothelium-dependent dilatation is emphasized by the fact that the direct vasoconstrictor effects of some of these substances (acetylcholine, histamine, norepinephrine, serotonin) on vascular smooth muscle is attenuated or even reversed by their simultaneous stimulatory effect on endothelial cells, resulting in the release of a vasodilator signal. Bioassay experiments have shown that a humoral vasodilator agent with a biological half-life in the range of seconds is released from the endothelium (native or cultured) during stimulation with acetylcholine, ATP and calcium ionophore. Experimental data are presented, which suggest that EDRF may act by direct stimulation of guanylate cyclase, resulting in smooth muscle relaxation due to increased smooth muscle cyclic GMP levels. The chemical nature of this nonprostaglandin endothelium-derived relaxant factor (EDRF) is still not known. The possible physiological and pathophysiological significance of endothelium-dependent dilatation in situ is discussed. Special attention is paid in this context to the potential role of EDRF activity in coronary vasomotor control.