Potentiating effect of NH4Cl on vasoconstriction in rat aorta

Cephalic and saphenous venous blood collected by continuous heating of the paws compared with arterial blood for measurement of blood gas values in well-perfused dogs

BACKGROUND

"Arterialization" of the dorsal hand vein is well-established in human medicine, but not in veterinary medicine.

OBJECTIVES

To compare cephalic and saphenous venous blood collected by continuously heating the paws to 37°C ("arterialization"), with arterial blood (AB) for measurement of blood gas variables in well-perfused dogs.

ANIMALS

Eight healthy dogs.

METHODS

Experimental study. Fore and hind paws were continuously heated to 37°C to "arterialize" cephalic and saphenous venous blood. AB and "arterialized" cephalic and saphenous venous blood (ACV and ASV, respectively) were simultaneously collected from lightly anesthetized dogs with induced metabolic and respiratory acid-base disorders. The pH, partial pressures of carbon dioxide (PCO2 ) and oxygen (PO2 ), bicarbonate concentration [HCO3 - ], and base excess (BE) were measured once in each state. Systolic blood pressure was maintained above 100 mm Hg. The AB, ACV, and ASV values were compared.

RESULTS

The pH, [HCO3 - ], and BE values had no significant difference and good agreement, the PCO2 values had a strong correlation (correlation coefficient of .91-1.00), and the PO2 values had a significant difference (P < .01) and poor agreement between AB and ACV, and between AB and ASV. The PCO2 values of ASV overestimated those of AB by ~3.0 mm Hg, which was considered within clinically allowable limits, while those of ACV were not within clinically allowable limits.

CONCLUSIONS AND CLINICAL IMPORTANCE

Under experimental conditions, the ASV samples were more identical to the AB samples than the ACV samples for pH, PCO2 , [HCO3 - ], and BE values in well-perfused dogs. The saphenous vein is suitable for "arterialization."

The mechanism of ions in pulmonary hypertension

Pulmonary hypertension（PH）is a kind of hemodynamic and pathophysiological state, in which the pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) rises above a certain threshold. The main pathological manifestation is pulmonary vasoconstriction and remodelling progressively. More and more studies have found that ions play a major role in the pathogenesis of PH. Many vasoactive substances, inflammatory mediators, transcription-inducing factors, apoptosis mediators, redox substances and translation modifiers can control the concentration of ions inside and outside the cell by regulating the activity of ion channels, which can regulate vascular contraction, cell proliferation, migration, apoptosis, inflammation and other functions. We all know that there are no effective drugs to treat PH. Ions are involved in the occurrence and development of PH, so it is necessary to clarify the mechanism of ions in PH as a therapeutic target for PH. The main ions involved in PH are calcium ion (Ca2+), potassium ion (K+), sodium ion (Na+) and chloride ion (Cl-). Here, we mainly discuss the distribution of these ions and their channels in pulmonary arteries and their role in the pathogenesis of PH.

Na(+)/H(+) exchange and hypoxic pulmonary hypertension

Intracellular pH (pHi) homeostasis is key to the functioning of vascular smooth muscle cells, including pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells (PASMCs). Sodium-hydrogen exchange (NHE) is an important contributor to pHi control in PASMCs. In this review, we examine the role of NHE in PASMC function, in both physiologic and pathologic conditions. In particular, we focus on the contribution of NHE to the PASMC response to hypoxia, considering both acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction and the development of pulmonary vascular remodeling and pulmonary hypertension in response to chronic hypoxia. Hypoxic pulmonary hypertension remains a disease with limited therapeutic options. Thus, this review explores past efforts at disrupting NHE signaling and discusses the therapeutic potential that such efforts may have in the field of pulmonary hypertension.

Intracellular pH as a determinant of vascular smooth muscle function

Intracellular pH (pHi) is a physiological parameter that is intimately linked to contractility, growth and proliferation of vascular smooth muscle (VSM). Regarding contractility, no general unifying concept of pHi regulation but a rather complex relation between pHi signals and vascular tone has been revealed so far. The modulation of vasotone by pHi depends on the type of blood vessel as well as on the pattern of regulatory input signals. In addition, changes in pHi have been recognized as an important cellular signal to determine the fate of cells in terms of proliferation or apoptosis. Cellular sensors for pHi include a variety of ion transport systems which control intracellular Ca2+ gradients and are likely to serve as a link between pHi and cell functions. Here we provide an overview on the potential targets and mechanisms that transduce pHi signals in VSM. The role of pHi-sensing signaling complexes and localized pHi signaling as the basis of diversity of pHi regulation of VSM function is discussed.

Intracellular alkalinization augments capacitative Ca2+ entry in vascular smooth muscle cells

Agonist-induced Ca2+ influx of vascular smooth muscle cells is thought to be triggered by depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores. This study investigated the effects of intracellular alkalinization on capacitative Ca2+ entry in A7r5 rat aortic smooth muscle cells. Intracellular alkalinization was induced by NH(4)Cl. Transplasmalemmal Ca2+ influx due to Ca2+ store depletion induced by thapsigargin, which was abolished by pretreatment of the cells with SKF-96365 but not affected by that with verapamil, was significantly increased by pretreatment with NH(4)Cl. Neither 5-hydroxytryptamine-induced inositol monophosphate accumulation nor intracellular Ca2+ release from its stores was affected by NH(4)Cl. These results suggest that intracellular alkalinization acts on the process(es) after depletion of Ca2+ stores and facilitates capacitative Ca2+ entry in vascular smooth muscle cells.

Intracellular alkalinization augments alpha(1)-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction by promotion of Ca(2+) entry through the non-L-type Ca(2+) channels

Modulation by intracellular pH of the vasoconstriction induced by alpha-adrenoceptor agonists was investigated in isolated guinea pig aorta. NH(4)Cl (15 mM) increased intracellular pH of aortic smooth muscle cells by about 0.2 pH unit and significantly augmented KCl-induced contraction of aortic strips, whereas simultaneous administration of NH(4)Cl (15 mM) plus Na(+) propionate (30 mM) failed to affect intracellular pH or contractility. NH(4)Cl (15 mM) potentiated contractions induced by alpha-adrenoceptor agonists, norepinephrine, phenylephrine and clonidine. Contraction induced by alpha(1)-selective adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine, but not that induced by norepinephrine or clonidine, was insensitive to inhibition by verapamil (1 microM). Phenylephrine-induced contraction was not affected by NH(4)Cl in Ca(2+)-free medium whereas extracellular Ca(2+)-induced contraction of phenylephrine-stimulated aorta was significantly augmented by NH(4)Cl. Consistently, 45Ca(2+)uptake into phenylephrine 1 microM)-stimulated aortic strips was increased by incubation with NH(4)Cl. The potentiating effects of NH(4)Cl on both phenylephrine-induced Ca(2+) entry and contraction were antagonized by Na(+) propionate. These results suggest that intracellular alkalinization facilitates alpha(1)-adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction by facilitation of an agonist-induced Ca(2+) entry pathway that is independent of L-type Ca(2+) channels.

Mechanism of the potentiating effect of NH4Cl on vasoconstriction in rat aorta

1. In medium containing 10 or 20 mM KCl, NH4Cl (10 mM) addition significantly diminished tetraphenylphosphonium bromide (TPP+) uptake in A7r5 vascular smooth muscle cells. 2. Addition of 10 mM NH4Cl significantly potentiated the 45Ca2+ uptake of A7r5 cells in medium containing 20 mM KCl; this increased uptake could be reduced to the basal level by pretreatment with 0.1 microM verapamil. 3. In rat aortic strips, KCl at 10 mM induced a slight contraction, that was greatly potentiated by the simultaneous addition of 10 mM NH4Cl. In this case, also, pretreatment with verapamil (1 microM) completely abolished the NH4Cl-potentiating effect. 4. The results suggest that ammonium ion amplifies the K(+)-induced contraction of rat aorta by facilitating transmembraneous Ca2+ influx through the voltage-dependent calcium channel, which may be due to potentiation of KCl-induced depolarization of the plasma membrane.

Inhibitory effect of ammonium chloride on acetylcholine-induced relaxation

We designed the present study to clarify whether the intracellular pH change by ammonium chloride influences endothelium-dependent relaxation in thoracic aorta of 9-week-old Sprague-Dawley rats. Intracellular alkalinization with 3 mmol/L ammonium chloride, which did not affect resting vascular tone, attenuated acetylcholine-induced relaxation but not nitroglycerin vasodilation. Acetylcholine relaxation was more inhibited by a shorter duration of treatment. Thus, change in intracellular pH may be important in the effect because the alkalinizing effect of ammonium chloride disappears gradually. In support of this, the proton ionophore nigericin abolished the effect. Also, amiloride shortened the effect of ammonium chloride, suggesting that intracellular pH plays a role: sodium-proton antiport antagonizes the disappearance of ammonium chloride-induced intracellular alkalinization. The synthesis of vasoconstrictor prostaglandins, such as thromboxane A2, may be stimulated during acetylcholine treatment, resulting in the attenuation of acetylcholine relaxation, because the relaxation was abolished by treatment with the phospholipase A2 inhibitor quinacrine, cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, prostaglandin H2/thromboxane A2 receptor antagonist S1452, and thromboxane A2 synthase inhibitor dazmegrel. Phospholipase A2 may contribute to the effect of intracellular alkalinization, which is compatible with the fact that the optimal pH of phospholipase A2 is neutral to alkaline. In addition, superoxide dismutase attenuated the effect of ammonium chloride. In conclusion, intracellular alkalinization by ammonium chloride attenuated acetylcholine-induced relaxation, possibly through the interrelated production of both thromboxane A2 and superoxide radicals.

Ammonium ion increases the tone of rat portal vein

1. The effect of ammonium ion on vascular tone was investigated using the portal vein isolated from rat. 2. Ammonium chloride at 10-90 mM induced a contractile response. 3. Spontaneous twitch contraction of portal strips was augmented by ammonium chloride at 10-60 mM. 4. Ammonium chloride-induced contraction was abolished in calcium-free solution or in the presence of 1 microM nifedipine. 5. Methylamine (60 mM) also induced a contractile response and augmented the spontaneous twitch contraction in rat portal vein. 6. After withdrawal of ammonium chloride or methylamine from the organ bath solution, the spontaneous twitch contraction was strongly inhibited. 7. These results suggest that ammonium compounds increase vascular tone by causing influx of extracellular calcium through the voltage-dependent calcium channel and intracellular alkalinization is involved in this process.