Contribution of sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ to the activation of Ca2+ -activated K+ channels in the resting state of arteries from spontaneously hypertensive rats

Defective Autophagy in Vascular Smooth Muscle Cells Alters Vascular Reactivity of the Mouse Femoral Artery

Autophagy is an important cellular survival process that enables degradation and recycling of defective organelles and proteins to maintain cellular homeostasis. Hence, defective autophagy plays a role in many age-associated diseases, such as atherosclerosis, arterial stiffening and hypertension. Recently, we showed in mice that autophagy in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) of large elastic arteries such as the aorta is important for Ca²⁺ mobilization and vascular reactivity. Whether autophagy plays a role in the smaller muscular arteries, such as the femoral artery, and thereby contributes to for example, blood pressure regulation is currently unknown. Therefore, we determined vascular reactivity of femoral artery segments of mice containing a VSMC specific deletion of the essential autophagy gene Atg7 (Atg7^F/F SM22α-Cre⁺) and compared them to femoral artery segments of corresponding control mice (Atg7^+/+ SM22α-Cre⁺). Our results indicate that similar to the aorta, femoral artery segments showed enhanced contractility. Specifically, femoral artery segments of Atg7^F/F SM22α-Cre⁺ mice showed an increase in phasic phenylephrine (PE) induced contractions, together with an enhanced sensitivity to depolarization induced contractions. In addition, and importantly, VSMC sensitivity to exogenous nitric oxide (NO) was significantly increased in femoral artery segments of Atg7^F/F SM22α-Cre⁺ mice. Notwithstanding the fact that small artery contractility is a significant pathophysiological determinant for the development of hypertension, 7 days of treatment with angiotensin II (AngII), which increased systolic blood pressure in control mice, was ineffective in Atg7^F/F SM22α-Cre⁺ mice. It is likely that this was due to the increased sensitivity of VSMCs to NO in the femoral artery, although changes in the heart upon AngII treatment were also present, which could also be (partially) accountable for the lack of an AngII-induced rise in blood pressure in Atg7^F/F SM22α-Cre⁺ mice. Overall, our study indicates that apart from previously shown effects on large elastic arteries, VSMC autophagy also plays a pivotal role in the regulation of the contractile and relaxing properties of the smaller muscular arteries. This may suggest a role for autophagy in vascular pathologies, such as hypertension and arterial stiffness.

Effect of endogenous and exogenous nitric oxide on calcium sparks as targets for vasodilation in rat cerebral artery

The potent vasodilator nitric oxide (NO), produced mainly by the endothelium, acts through a BK(Ca)-dependent mechanism to increase the frequency of calcium sparks (Ca(2+) sparks) in myocyte isolated from rat cerebral arteries. Our present aim has been to assess the role of endogenous and exogenous NO on the Ca(2+) sparks through ryanodine-sensitive channels in the sarcoplasmic reticulum of an intact artery. Calcium sparks, detected with fluo-4 and laser scanning confocal microscopy, were examined in isolated pressurized rat posterior cerebral arteries with (intact) and without endothelium (denuded). Addition of the NO donor, DEA-NONOate (N-(2-aminoethyl)-N-(2-hydroxy-2-nitrosohydrazino)-1,2-ethylenediamine), did not change the amplitude and frequency of Ca(2+) sparks in the intact artery. However, inhibition of nitric oxide synthase with N-omega-nitro-L-arginine or removal of endothelium reduced Ca(2+) sparks frequency by about 50%. Under these conditions (i.e., absence of endogenous NO production), DEA-NONOate, increased Ca(2+) spark frequency 3- to 4-fold. These results suggest that endothelial NO modulates local Ca(2+) release events in the arterial smooth muscle and that this mechanism may contribute to the actions of nitrovasodilators.

Pharmacological evidence for a key role of voltage-gated K+ channels in the function of rat aortic smooth muscle cells

The role of voltage-dependent (I(K(v))) and large conductance Ca(2+)-activated (BK(Ca)) K(+) currents in the function of the rat aorta was investigated using specific BK(Ca) and K(V) channel inhibitors in single rat aortic myocytes (RAMs) with patch-clamp technique and in endothelium-denuded aortic rings with isometric tension measurements. The whole-cell K(+) currents were recorded in RAMs dialysed with 200 and 444 nm Ca(2+) and in perforated-patch configuration. Electrophysiological analysis demonstrated that I(K(v)) appeared at >/=-40 mV, while BK(Ca) (isolated using 1 microm paxilline) were seen positive to -20 mV in all conditions. Voltage-dependent characteristics, but not maximal conductance, of I(K(v)) was significantly altered in increased [Ca(2+)](i). Correolide (1 microm) (a K(V)1 channel blocker) did not inhibit the I(K(v)), whereas millimolar concentration of TEA (IC(50)=3.1+/-0.6 mm, n=5) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, IC(50)=5.9+/-1.9 mm, n=7) suppressed I(K(v)). These results and immunocytochemical analysis suggest the K(V)2.1 channel to be a molecular correlate for I(K(v)). In nonstimulated aortic rings 1-5 mm TEA and 4-AP (inhibitors of I(K(v))), but not paxilline (1 microm), caused contraction. The frequency of contractile responses to TEA and 4-AP was increased in the presence of 10 mm KCl, which itself did not significantly affect the aortic basal tone. Phenylephrine (15-40 nm) induced sustained tension with superimposed slow oscillatory contractions (termed OWs). OWs were blocked by diltiazem, ryanodine and cyclopiazonic acid, suggesting the involvement of L-type Ca(2+) channels and ryanodine-sensitive Ca(2+) stores in this process. TEA and 4-AP, but not IbTX, paxilline or correolide, increased the duration and amplitude of OWs, indicating that I(K(v)) is involved in the control of oscillatory activity. In conclusion, our findings suggest that the K(V)2.1-mediated I(K(v)), and not BK(Ca), plays an important role in the regulation of the excitability and contractility of rat aorta.

Vascular relaxation response to hydrogen peroxide is impaired in hypertension

1. In phenylephrine (1 microm)-precontracted rat superior mesenteric arteries (MA), hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2), 0.3 and 1 mm) caused a biphasic response: a transient contraction followed by a relaxation. In the presence of thromboxane A(2)/prostaglandin H(2) (TP) receptor antagonist (SQ 29548), the contractile component of the biphasic response was abolished. The relaxation response to H(2)O(2) was smaller in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) when compared with normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). 2. The mechanisms for the attenuated relaxation to H(2)O(2) in the SHR were studied. KCl (40 mm) prevented the relaxation response. Calcium-dependent K(+) channel (K(Ca)) blockers (tetraethylammonium chloride, TEA; iberiotoxin, and charybdotoxin) showed a greater inhibition of H(2)O(2) relaxation in SHR than in WKY, whereas voltage-dependent K(+)-channel (K(v)) blocker 4-aminopyridine was more effective in inhibiting the relaxation in WKY than in SHR. 3. H(2)O(2) (1 mm) greatly enhanced the frequency and intensity of the spontaneous transient outward K(+) currents in SHR MA, and the effects of H(2)O(2) were inhibited by iberiotoxin, while in WKY MA the K(+) currents induced by H(2)O(2) were mainly of the K(v) type. The consequence of the activation of different types of K(+) channel was that the net increase in mean outward K(+) current density in response to H(2)O(2) was smaller in SHR than in WKY, which may account for the attenuated relaxation response to H(2)O(2) in the SHR. 4. The contractile responses of MA to TEA, iberiotoxin, and charybdotoxin were greater in SHR than in WKY. 5. In summary, an attenuated relaxation response to H(2)O(2) was found in SHR MA when compared to WKY. In contrast to the activation of K(v) channels in WKY, H(2)O(2) markedly enhanced K(Ca) activity in SHR, resulting in an attenuation of the increase in mean outward K(+) current density in response to H(2)O(2). These results suggest that alteration in K(+) channel activation by reactive oxygen species may play a role in the development of hypertension in SHR.

Comparison of inhibitory effects of Y-27632, a Rho kinase inhibitor, in strips of small and large mesenteric arteries from spontaneously hypertensive and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats

Since Y-27632, a specific inhibitor of Rho kinase, decreases the blood pressure in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), it is suggested that Rho kinase is involved in the pathophysiology of hypertension. However, the effects of Y-27632 on isolated resistance arteries have never been determined. This study aimed to examine the possible role of the Rho/Rho kinase pathway during arterial contraction in isolated resistance arteries from SHR. The profile of arterial relaxant effects of Y-27632 was compared in endothelium-denuded strips of small and large mesenteric arteries from 13-week-old SHR and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The addition of 10(-6) mol/l norepinephrine (NE) to the strips of small arteries caused an initial peak followed by a tonic contraction in both strains. There was no difference between the two strains in either the initial peak or the tonic contraction. The addition of Y-27632 (0.3-3 micromol/l) to the tonic contraction of these strips caused a concentration-dependent relaxation in both strains. The relaxation was greater in SHR than in WKY. Similar results were observed in strips of large arteries. The relaxant effects of Y-27632 were greater in the large artery than in the small artery. Y-27632 also induced a concentration-dependent relaxation in strips precontracted with 65.9 mmol/l K+ depolarization. In both arteries, this relaxation was greater in SHR. The relaxant effects of Y-27632 were greater in the K+-contracted strips than in the NE-contracted strips. We conclude that Y-27632 shows the greater relaxant effects on the SHR arteries, and the effects are more evident in the large artery and in the K+-contracted strips.