Vascular biology in genetically altered mice : smaller vessels, bigger insight

Muscarinic control of cardiovascular function in humans: a review of current clinical evidence

PURPOSE

To review the available evidence on the impact of muscarinic receptor modulation on cardiovascular control in humans.

METHODS

In this narrative Review we summarize data on cardiovascular endpoints from clinical trials of novel subtype-selective or quasi-selective muscarinic modulators, mostly PAMs, performed in the last decade. We also review the cardiovascular phenotype in recently described human genetic and autoimmune disorders affecting muscarinic receptors.

RESULTS

Recent advancements in the development of compounds that selectively target muscarinic acetylcholine receptors are expanding our knowledge about the physiological function of each muscarinic receptor subtype (M1, M2, M3, M4, M5). Among these novel compounds, positive allosteric modulators (PAMs) have emerged as the preferred therapeutic to regulate muscarinic receptor subtype function. Many muscarinic allosteric and orthosteric modulators (including but not limited to xanomeline-trospium and emraclidine) are now in clinical development and approaching regulatory approval for multiple indications, including the treatment of cognitive and psychiatric symptoms in patients with schizophrenia as well as Alzheimer's disease and other dementias. The results of these clinical trials provide an opportunity to understand the influence of muscarinic modulation on cardiovascular autonomic control in humans. While the results and the impact of each of these therapies on heart rate and blood pressure control have been variable, in part because the clinical trials were not specifically designed to measure cardiovascular endpoints, the emerging data is valuable to elucidate the relative cardiovascular contributions of each muscarinic receptor subtype.

CONCLUSION

Understanding the muscarinic control of cardiovascular function is of paramount importance and may contribute to the development of novel therapeutic strategies for treating cardiovascular disease.

Rhus coriaria L. (Sumac) Evokes Endothelium-Dependent Vasorelaxation of Rat Aorta: Involvement of the cAMP and cGMP Pathways

Rhus coriaria L. (sumac) is widely used in traditional remedies and cuisine of countries of the Mediterranean as well as Central and South-West Asia. Administration of sumac to experimental models and patients with diverse pathological conditions generates multi-faceted propitious effects, including the quality as a vasodilator. Together, the effects are concertedly channeled toward cardiovasobolic protection. However, there is paucity of data on the mechanism of action for sumac’s vasodilatory effect, an attribute which is considered to be advantageous for unhealthy circulatory system. Accordingly, we sought to determine the mechanisms by which sumac elicits its vasorelaxatory effects. We deciphered the signaling networks by application of a range of pharmacological inhibitors, biochemical assays and including the quantification of cyclic nucleotide monophosphates. Herein, we provide evidence that an ethanolic extract of sumac fruit, dose-dependently, relaxes rat isolated aorta. The mechanistic effect is achieved via stimulation of multiple transducers namely PI3-K/Akt, eNOS, NO, guanylyl cyclase, cGMP, and PKG. Interestingly, the arachidonic acid pathway (cyclooxygenases), adenylyl cyclase/cAMP and ATP-dependent potassium channels appear to partake in this sumac-orchestrated attenuation of vascular tone. Clearly, our data support the favorable potential cardio-vasculoprotective action of sumac.

Preparation Steps for Measurement of Reactivity in Mouse Retinal Arterioles Ex Vivo

Vascular insufficiency and alterations in normal retinal perfusion are among the major factors for the pathogenesis of various sight-threatening ocular diseases, such as diabetic retinopathy, hypertensive retinopathy, and possibly glaucoma. Therefore, retinal microvascular preparations are pivotal tools for physiological and pharmacological studies to delineate the underlying pathophysiological mechanisms and to design therapies for the diseases. Despite the wide use of mouse models in ophthalmic research, studies on retinal vascular reactivity are scarce in this species. A major reason for this discrepancy is the challenging isolation procedures owing to the small size of these retinal blood vessels, which is ~ ≤ 30 µm in luminal diameter. To circumvent the problem of direct isolation of these retinal microvessels for functional studies, we established an isolation and preparation technique that enables ex vivo studies of mouse retinal vasoactivity under near-physiological conditions. Although the present experimental preparations will specifically refer to the mouse retinal arterioles, this methodology can readily be employed to microvessels from rats.

Genetic Regulation of Endothelial Vasomotor Function

The endothelium plays an important role in the regulation of vasomotor tone and the maintenance of vascular integrity. Endothelial dysfunction, i.e., impaired endothelial dependent dilation, is a fundamental component of the pathogenesis of cardiovascular disease. Although endothelial dysfunction is associated with a number of cardiovascular disease risk factors, those risk factors are not the only determinants of endothelial dysfunction. Despite knowing many molecules involved in endothelial signaling pathways, the genetic contribution to endothelial function has yet to be fully elucidated. This mini-review summarizes current evidence supporting the genetic contribution to endothelial vasomotor function. Findings from population-based studies, association studies for candidate genes, and unbiased large genomic scale studies in humans and rodent models are discussed. A brief synopsis of the current studies addressing the genetic regulation of endothelial responses to exercise training is also included.

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor M1 and M3 subtypes mediate acetylcholine-induced endothelium-independent vasodilatation in rat mesenteric arteries

The present study investigated pharmacological characterizations of muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (AChR) subtypes involving ACh-induced endothelium-independent vasodilatation in rat mesenteric arteries. Changes in perfusion pressure to periarterial nerve stimulation and ACh were measured before and after the perfusion of Krebs solution containing muscarinic receptor antagonists. Distributions of muscarinic AChR subtypes in mesenteric arteries with an intact endothelium were studied using Western blotting. The expression level of M1 and M3 was significantly greater than that of M2. Endothelium removal significantly decreased expression levels of M2 and M3, but not M1. In perfused mesenteric vascular beds with intact endothelium and active tone, exogenous ACh (1, 10, and 100 nmol) produced concentration-dependent and long-lasting vasodilatations. In endothelium-denuded preparations, relaxation to ACh (1 nmol) disappeared, but ACh at 10 and 100 nmol caused long-lasting vasodilatations, which were markedly blocked by the treatment of pirenzepine (M1 antagonist) or 4-DAMP (M1 and M3 antagonist) plus hexamethonium (nicotinic AChR antagonist), but not methoctramine (M2 and M4 antagonist). These results suggest that muscarinic AChR subtypes, mainly M1, distribute throughout the rat mesenteric arteries, and that activation of M1 and/or M3 which may be located on CGRPergic nerves releases CGRP, causing an endothelium-independent vasodilatation.

Protective effect of melatonin on cigarette smoke-induced restenosis in rat carotid arteries after balloon injury

Vascular restenosis after the interventional angioplasty remains the main obstacle to a favorable long-term patency. Many researches suggest cigarette smoking is one of the most important causes of restenosis. This study was designed to investigate whether melatonin could protect against the cigarette smoke-induced restenosis in rat carotid arteries after balloon injury. Three groups of male rats (normal condition, cigarette smoke exposed, cigarette smoke exposed, and melatonin injected) were used in this study. An established balloon-induced carotid artery injury was performed, and the carotid arteries were harvested from these three groups 14 days later. The ratio of intima to media, the infiltration of inflammatory cells, the expression of inflammatory cytokines (NF-κB, IL-1β, IL-6, TNF-α, MCP-1), adhesion molecules (ICAM-1, VCAM-1), and eNOS were measured. The results showed that cigarette smoke exposure aggravated the stenosis of the lumen, promoted the infiltration of inflammatory cells and induced the expression of the inflammatory cytokines and adhesion molecules after the balloon-induced carotid artery injury. Moreover, cigarette smoke exposure can inhibit the expression of eNOS. Particularly, we surprised that melatonin could minimize this effect caused by cigarette smoke. These results suggested that melatonin could prevent the cigarette smoke-induced restenosis in rat carotid arteries after balloon injury and the mechanism of its protective effect may be the inhibition of the inflammatory reaction. This also implies melatonin has the potential therapeutic applicability in prevention of restenosis after the vascular angioplasty in smokers.

Role of nitric oxide synthase isoforms for ophthalmic artery reactivity in mice

Nitric oxide synthases (NOS) are involved in regulation of ocular vascular tone and blood flow. While endothelial NOS (eNOS) has recently been shown to mediate endothelium-dependent vasodilation in mouse retinal arterioles, the contribution of individual NOS isoforms to vascular responses is unknown in the retrobulbar vasculature. Moreover, it is unknown whether the lack of a single NOS isoform affects neuron survival in the retina. Thus, the goal of the present study was to examine the hypothesis that the lack of individual nitric oxide synthase (NOS) isoforms affects the reactivity of mouse ophthalmic arteries and neuron density in the retinal ganglion cell (RGC) layer. Mice deficient in one of the three NOS isoforms (nNOS-/-, iNOS-/- and eNOS-/-) were compared to respective wild type controls. Intraocular pressure (IOP) was measured in conscious mice using rebound tonometry. To examine the role of each NOS isoform for mediating vascular responses, ophthalmic arteries were studied in vitro using video microscopy. Neuron density in the RGC layer was calculated from retinal wholemounts stained with cresyl blue. IOP was similar in all NOS-deficient genotypes and respective wild type controls. In ophthalmic arteries, phenylephrine, nitroprusside and acetylcholine evoked concentration-dependent responses that did not differ between individual NOS-deficient genotypes and their respective controls. In all genotypes except eNOS-/- mice, vasodilation to acetylcholine was markedly reduced after incubation with L-NAME, a non-isoform-selective inhibitor of NOS. In contrast, pharmacological inhibition of nNOS and iNOS had no effect on acetylcholine-induced vasodilation in any of the mouse genotypes. Neuron density in the RGC layer was similar in all NOS-deficient genotypes and respective controls. Our findings suggest that eNOS contributes to endothelium-dependent dilation of murine ophthalmic arteries. However, the chronic lack of eNOS is functionally compensated by NOS-independent vasodilator mechanisms. The lack of a single NOS isoform does not appear to affect IOP or neuron density in the RGC layer.

Role of the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype in murine ophthalmic arteries after endothelial removal

PURPOSE

We tested the hypothesis that the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype mediates cholinergic responses in murine ophthalmic arteries after endothelial removal.

METHODS

Muscarinic receptor gene expression was determined in ophthalmic arteries with intact and with removed endothelium using real-time PCR. To examine the role of the M3 receptor in mediating vascular responses, ophthalmic arteries from M3 receptor-deficient mice (M3R(-/-)) and respective wild-type controls were studied in vitro. Functional studies were performed in nonpreconstricted arteries with either intact or removed endothelium using video microscopy.

RESULTS

In endothelium-intact ophthalmic arteries, mRNA for all five muscarinic receptor subtypes was detected, but M3 receptor mRNA was most abundant. In endothelium-removed ophthalmic arteries, M1, M2, and M3 receptors displayed similar mRNA expression levels, which were higher than those for M4 and M5 receptors. In functional studies, acetylcholine evoked vasoconstriction in endothelium-removed arteries from wild-type mice that was virtually abolished after incubation with the muscarinic receptor blocker atropine, indicative of the involvement of muscarinic receptors. In concentration-response experiments, acetylcholine and carbachol concentration-dependently constricted endothelium-removed ophthalmic arteries from wild-type mice, but produced only negligible responses in arteries from M3R(-/-) mice. In contrast, acetylcholine concentration-dependently dilated ophthalmic arteries with intact endothelium from wild-type mice, but not from M3R(-/-) mice. Responses to the nitric oxide donor nitroprusside and to KCl did not differ between ophthalmic arteries from wild-type and M3R(-/-) mice, neither in endothelium-intact nor in endothelium-removed arteries.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide evidence that in murine ophthalmic arteries the muscarinic M3 receptor subtype mediates cholinergic endothelium-dependent vasodilation and endothelium-independent vasoconstriction.

Self-gated CINE MRI for combined contrast-enhanced imaging and wall-stiffness measurements of murine aortic atherosclerotic lesions

Background

High-resolution contrast-enhanced imaging of the murine atherosclerotic vessel wall is difficult due to unpredictable flow artifacts, motion of the thin artery wall and problems with flow suppression in the presence of a circulating contrast agent.

Methods and Results

We applied a 2D-FLASH retrospective-gated CINE MRI method at 9.4T to characterize atherosclerotic plaques and vessel wall distensibility in the aortic arch of aged ApoE^−/− mice after injection of a contrast agent. The method enabled detection of contrast enhancement in atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic arch after I.V. injection of micelles and iron oxides resulting in reproducible plaque enhancement. Both contrast agents were taken up in the plaque, which was confirmed by histology. Additionally, the retrospective-gated CINE method provided images of the aortic wall throughout the cardiac cycle, from which the vessel wall distensibility could be calculated. Reduction in plaque size by statin treatment resulted in lower contrast enhancement and reduced wall stiffness.

Conclusions

The retrospective-gated CINE MRI provides a robust and simple way to detect and quantify contrast enhancement in atherosclerotic plaques in the aortic wall of ApoE^−/− mice. From the same scan, plaque-related changes in stiffness of the aortic wall can be determined. In this mouse model, a correlation between vessel wall stiffness and atherosclerotic lesions was found.

cGMP-dependent protein kinases (cGK)

cGMP-dependent protein kinases (cGK) are serine/threonine kinases that are widely distributed in eukaryotes. Two genes-prkg1 and prkg2-code for cGKs, namely, cGKI and cGKII. In mammals, two isozymes, cGKIα and cGKIβ, are generated from the prkg1 gene. The cGKI isozymes are prominent in all types of smooth muscle, platelets, and specific neuronal areas such as cerebellar Purkinje cells, hippocampal neurons, and the lateral amygdala. The cGKII prevails in the secretory epithelium of the small intestine, the juxtaglomerular cells, the adrenal cortex, the chondrocytes, and in the nucleus suprachiasmaticus. Both cGKs are major downstream effectors of many, but not all, signalling events of the NO/cGMP and the ANP/cGMP pathways. cGKI relaxes smooth muscle tone and prevents platelet aggregation, whereas cGKII inhibits renin secretion, chloride/water secretion in the small intestine, the resetting of the clock during early night, and endochondral bone growth. This chapter focuses on the involvement of cGKs in cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular processes including cell growth and metabolism.

5HT(2A) and 5HT(2B) receptors contribute to serotonin-induced vascular dysfunction in diabetes

Although 5HT(2A) receptors mediate contractions of normal arteries to serotonin (5HT), in some cardiovascular diseases, other receptor subtypes contribute to the marked increase in serotonin contractions. We hypothesized that enhanced contractions of arteries from diabetics to 5HT are mediated by an increased contribution from multiple 5HT receptor subtypes. We compared responses to selective 5HT receptor agonists and expression of 5HT receptor isoforms (5HT(1B), 5HT(2A), and 5HT(2B)) in aorta from nondiabetic (ND) compared to type 2 diabetic mice (DB, BKS.Cg-Dock7(m)+/+Lepr(db)/J). 5HT, 5HT(2A) (TCB2 and BRL54443), and 5HT(2B) (norfenfluramine and BW723C86) receptor agonists produced concentration-dependent contractions of ND arteries that were markedly increased in DB arteries. Neither ND nor DB arteries contracted to a 5HT(1B) receptor agonist. MDL11939, a 5HT(2A) receptor antagonist, and LY272015, a 5HT(2B) receptor antagonist, reduced contractions of arteries from DB to 5HT more than ND. Expression of 5HT(1B), 5HT(2A), and 5HT(2B) receptor subtypes was similar in ND and DB. Inhibition of rho kinase decreased contractions to 5HT and 5HT(2A) and 5HT(2B) receptor agonists in ND and DB. We conclude that in contrast to other cardiovascular diseases, enhanced contraction of arteries from diabetics to 5HT is not due to a change in expression of multiple 5HT receptor subtypes.

Muscarinic receptor agonists and antagonists: effects on cardiovascular function

Muscarinic receptor activation plays an essential role in parasympathetic regulation of cardiovascular function. The primary effect of parasympathetic stimulation is to decrease cardiac output by inhibiting heart rate. However, pharmacologically, muscarinic agonists are actually capable of producing both inhibitory and stimulatory effects on the heart as well as vasculature. This reflects the fact that muscarinic receptors are expressed throughout the cardiovascular system, even though they are not always involved in mediating parasympathetic responses. In the heart, in addition to regulating heart rate by altering the electrical activity of the sinoatrial node, activation of M₂ receptors can affect conduction of electrical impulses through the atrioventricular node. These same receptors can also regulate the electrical and mechanical activity of the atria and ventricles. In the vasculature, activation of M₃ and M₅ receptors in epithelial cells can cause vasorelaxation, while activation of M₁ or M₃ receptors in vascular smooth muscle cells can cause vasoconstriction in the absence of endothelium. This review focuses on our current understanding of the signaling mechanisms involved in mediating these responses.

Identification of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype mediating cholinergic vasodilation in murine retinal arterioles

PURPOSE

To identify the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype that mediates cholinergic vasodilation in murine retinal arterioles.

METHODS

Muscarinic receptor gene expression was determined in murine retinal arterioles using real-time PCR. To assess the functional relevance of muscarinic receptors for mediating vascular responses, retinal vascular preparations from muscarinic receptor-deficient mice were studied in vitro. Changes in luminal arteriole diameter in response to muscarinic and nonmuscarinic vasoactive substances were measured by video microscopy.

RESULTS

Only mRNA for the M(3) receptor was detected in retinal arterioles. Thus, M(3) receptor-deficient mice (M3R(-/-)) and respective wild-type controls were used for functional studies. Acetylcholine concentration-dependently dilated retinal arterioles from wild-type mice. In contrast, vasodilation to acetylcholine was almost completely abolished in retinal arterioles from M3R(-/-) mice, whereas responses to the nitric oxide (NO) donor nitroprusside were retained. Carbachol, an acetylcholinesterase-resistant analog of acetylcholine, also evoked dilation in retinal arterioles from wild-type, but not from M3R(-/-), mice. Vasodilation responses from wild-type mice to acetylcholine were negligible after incubation with the non-subtype-selective muscarinic receptor blocker atropine or the NO synthase inhibitor N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, and were even reversed to contraction after endothelial damage with 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide evidence that endothelial M(3) receptors mediate cholinergic vasodilation in murine retinal arterioles via activation of NO synthase.

Akt/eNOS pathway activation in endothelium-dependent relaxation is preserved in aortas from female, but not from male, type 2 diabetic mice

Cardiovascular problems are major causes of morbidity and mortality, the main problems being coronary artery disease and atherosclerosis, in type 2 diabetes mellitus. However, female gender is a protective factor in the development of, for example, atherosclerosis and hypertension. Our aim was to investigate possible gender differences in the activation of Akt/eNOS signaling in aortas from a mouse type 2 diabetic model. Nonfasting plasma glucose was significantly above control in the diabetic mice (both males and females). Plasma insulin was not different between the age-matched controls and the diabetic mice (of either gender). In diabetic males (vs male controls and/or diabetic females): (a) systemic blood pressure was elevated, (b) the clonidine- and insulin-induced Akt-dependent aortic relaxations were impaired, but the ACh-induced Akt-independent and SNP-induced endothelium-independent aortic relaxations were not, (c) Akt and eNOS expression levels were lower, (d) both Akt phosphorylation at Ser(473) and eNOS phosphorylation at Ser(1177) in the aorta were lower under clonidine- or insulin-stimulation, but not under ACh-stimulation. These results suggest that in mice: (i) endothelial functions mediated via the Akt/eNOS pathway are abrogated in type 2 diabetes only in males and (ii) in females (vs males), eNOS expression is elevated and the endothelium resists dysfunction.

Role of M1, M3, and M5 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in cholinergic dilation of small arteries studied with gene-targeted mice

Acetylcholine regulates perfusion of numerous organs via changes in local blood flow involving muscarinic receptor-induced release of vasorelaxing agents from the endothelium. The purpose of the present study was to determine the role of M₁, M₃, and M₅ muscarinic acetylcholine receptors in vasodilation of small arteries using gene-targeted mice deficient in either of the three receptor subtypes (M1R(-/-), M3R(-/-), or M5R(-/-) mice, respectively). Muscarinic receptor gene expression was determined in murine cutaneous, skeletal muscle, and renal interlobar arteries using real-time PCR. Moreover, respective arteries from M1R(-/-), M3R(-/-), M5R(-/-), and wild-type mice were isolated, cannulated with micropipettes, and pressurized. Luminal diameter was measured using video microscopy. mRNA for all five muscarinic receptor subtypes was detected in all three vascular preparations from wild-type mice. However, M(3) receptor mRNA was found to be most abundant. Acetylcholine produced dose-dependent dilation in all three vascular preparations from M1R(-/-), M5R(-/-), and wild-type mice. In contrast, cholinergic dilation was virtually abolished in arteries from M3R(-/-) mice. Deletion of either M₁, M₃, or M₅ receptor genes did not affect responses to nonmuscarinic vasodilators, such as substance P and nitroprusside. These findings provide the first direct evidence that M₃ receptors mediate cholinergic vasodilation in cutaneous, skeletal muscle, and renal interlobar arteries. In contrast, neither M₁ nor M₅ receptors appear to be involved in cholinergic responses of the three vascular preparations tested.

Cholinergic responses of ophthalmic arteries in M3 and M5 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor knockout mice

PURPOSE

To determine the functional role of M(3) and M(5) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtypes in ophthalmic arteries using gene-targeted mice.

METHODS

Muscarinic receptor gene expression was quantified in murine ophthalmic arteries using real-time PCR. To test the functional relevance of M(3) and M(5) receptors, ophthalmic arteries from mice deficient in either subtype (M3R(-/-), M5R(-/-), respectively) and wild-type controls were isolated, cannulated with micropipettes, and pressurized. Changes in luminal vessel diameter in response to muscarinic and nonmuscarinic receptor agonists were measured by video microscopy.

RESULTS

With the use of real-time PCR, all five muscarinic receptor subtypes were detected in ophthalmic arteries. However, mRNA levels of M(1), M(3), and M(5) receptors were higher than those of M(2) and M(4) receptors. In functional studies, after preconstriction with phenylephrine, acetylcholine and carbachol produced concentration-dependent dilations of ophthalmic arteries that were similar in M5R(-/-) and wild-type mice. Strikingly, cholinergic dilation of ophthalmic arteries was almost completely abolished in M3R(-/-) mice. Deletion of either M(3) or M(5) receptor did not affect responses to nonmuscarinic vasodilators such as bradykinin or nitroprusside.

CONCLUSIONS

These findings provide the first evidence that M(3) receptors are critically involved in cholinergic regulation of diameter in murine ophthalmic arteries.

Beneficial effects of estrogen in a mouse model of cerebrovascular insufficiency

BACKGROUND

The M(5) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor is known to play a crucial role in mediating acetylcholine dependent dilation of cerebral blood vessels. Previously, we reported that male M(5) muscarinic acetylcholine knockout mice (M5R(-/-) mice) suffer from a constitutive constriction of cerebral arteries, reduced cerebral blood flow, dendritic atrophy, and short-term memory loss, without necrosis and/or inflammation in the brain.

METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS

We employed the Magnetic Resonance Angiography to study the area of the basilar artery in male and female M5R(-/-) mice. Here we show that female M5R(-/-) mice did not show the reduction in vascular area observed in male M5R(-/-) mice. However, ovariectomized female M5R(-/-) mice displayed phenotypic changes similar to male M5R(-/-) mice, strongly suggesting that estrogen plays a key role in the observed gender differences. We found that 17beta-estradiol (E2) induced nitric oxide release and ERK activation in a conditional immortalized mouse brain cerebrovascular endothelial cell line. Agonists of ERalpha, ERbeta, and GPR30 promoted ERK activation in this cell line. Moreover, in vivo magnetic resonance imaging studies showed that the cross section of the basilar artery was restored to normal in male M5R(-/-) mice treated with E2. Treatment with E2 also improved the performance of male M5R(-/-) mice in a cognitive test and reduced the atrophy of neural dendrites in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. M5R(-/-) mice also showed astrocyte swelling in cortex and hippocampus using the three-dimensional reconstruction of electron microscope images. This phenotype was reversed by E2 treatment, similar to the observed deficits in dendrite morphology and the number of synapses.

CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE

Our findings indicate that M5R(-/-) mice represent an excellent novel model system to study the beneficial effects of estrogen on cerebrovascular function and cognition. E2 may offer new therapeutic perspectives for the treatment of cerebrovascular insufficiency related memory dysfunction.

In vivo comparison of atherosclerotic plaque progression with vessel wall strain and blood flow velocity in apoE(-/-) mice with MR microscopy at 17.6 T

OBJECT

At present, in vivo plaque characterization in mice by MRI is typically limited to the visualization of vascular lesions with no accompanying analysis of vessel wall function. The aim of this study was to analyze the influence of atherosclerotic plaque development on the morphological and mechanical characteristics of the aortic vessel wall in a pre-clinical murine model of atherosclerosis.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Groups of apolipoprotein E-deficient (apoE(-/-)) and C57BL/6J control mice fed a high-fat diet were monitored over a 12-week time period by high-field MRI. Multi-Slice-Multi-Spin-Echo and Phase-Contrast MRI sequences were employed to track changes to aortic vessel wall area, blood flow velocity and distensibility.

RESULTS

After 6- and 12-weeks, significant changes in vessel wall area and circumferential strain were detected in the apoE(-/-) mice relative to the control animals. Blood flow velocity and intravascular lumen remained unchanged in both groups, findings that are in agreement with the theory of positive remodeling of the ascending aorta during plaque progression.

CONCLUSION

This study has demonstrated the application of high-field MRI for characterizing the temporal progression of morphological and mechanical changes to murine aortic vasculature associated with atherosclerotic lesion development.

In utero programming of adult vascular function in transgenic mice lacking low-density lipoprotein receptor

OBJECTIVE

The objective of this study was to examine the role of maternal hypercholesterolemia in fetal programming of adult vascular function using transgenic mice lacking the low-density lipoprotein receptor (LDLR).

STUDY DESIGN

Homozygous LDLR knockout mice (B6.129S7-Ldlr(tm1Her)/J, LDLR(-/-KO)) and their wild-type controls (C57BL/6J, LDLR(+/+WT)) were cross-bred to produce 4 litter groups: LDLR(-/-KO), maternally derived heterozygous (LDLR(+/-Mat)), paternally derived heterozygous (LDLR(+/-Pat)) and LDLR(+/+WT). Female and male offspring were killed at 10-12 weeks of age, and carotid arteries were used for in vitro experiments.

RESULTS

The dose responses to phenylephrine were significantly higher in LDLR(-/-KO) and LDLR(+/-Mat) male offspring. The contractile responses to phenylephrine in female mice were significantly increased only in the LDLR(-/-KO) offspring. Maximal Ca(2+) contraction was higher in LDLR(-/-KO) male and female offspring.

CONCLUSION

Despite being genomically similar, heterozygous offspring that developed in a hypercholesterolemic maternal environment had abnormal vascular responses later in life compared with those that developed in a normal environment.

Biomechanics of the cardiovascular system: the aorta as an illustratory example

Biomechanics relates the function of a physiological system to its structure. The objective of biomechanics is to deduce the function of a system from its geometry, material properties and boundary conditions based on the balance laws of mechanics (e.g. conservation of mass, momentum and energy). In the present review, we shall outline the general approach of biomechanics. As this is an enormously broad field, we shall consider a detailed biomechanical analysis of the aorta as an illustration. Specifically, we will consider the geometry and material properties of the aorta in conjunction with appropriate boundary conditions to formulate and solve several well-posed boundary value problems. Among other issues, we shall consider the effect of longitudinal pre-stretch and surrounding tissue on the mechanical status of the vessel wall. The solutions of the boundary value problems predict the presence of mechanical homeostasis in the vessel wall. The implications of mechanical homeostasis on growth, remodelling and postnatal development of the aorta are considered.

Loss of M5 muscarinic acetylcholine receptors leads to cerebrovascular and neuronal abnormalities and cognitive deficits in mice

The M5 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M5R) has been shown to play a crucial role in mediating acetylcholine-dependent dilation of cerebral blood vessels. We show that male M5R-/- mice displayed constitutive constriction of cerebral arteries using magnetic resonance angiography in vivo. Male M5R-/- mice exhibited a significantly reduced cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the cerebral cortex, hippocampus, basal ganglia, and thalamus. Cortical and hippocampal pyramidal neurons from M5R-/- mice showed neuronal atrophy. Hippocampus-dependent spatial and nonspatial memory was also impaired in M5R-/- mice. In M5R-/- mice, CA3 pyramidal cells displayed a significantly attenuated frequency of the spontaneous postsynaptic current and long-term potentiation was significantly impaired at the mossy fiber-CA3 synapse. Our findings suggest that impaired M5R signaling may play a role in the pathophysiology of cerebrovascular deficits. The M5 receptor may represent an attractive novel therapeutic target to ameliorate memory deficits caused by impaired cerebrovascular function.

Selective cerebral vascular dysfunction in Mn-SOD-deficient mice

We tested the hypothesis that the mitochondrial form of superoxide dismutase [manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD)] protects the cerebral vasculature. Basilar arteries (baseline diameter ∼140 μm) from mice were isolated, cannulated, and pressurized to measure vessel diameter. In arteries from C57BL/6 mice preconstricted with U-46619, acetylcholine (ACh; an endothelium-dependent vasodilator) produced dilation that was similar in male and female mice and abolished by an inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase. Vasodilation to ACh was not altered in heterozygous male or female Mn-SOD-deficient (Mn-SOD+/−) mice compared with wild-type littermate controls (Mn-SOD+/+). Constriction of the basilar artery to arginine vasopressin, but not KCl or U-46619, was increased in Mn-SOD+/− mice ( P < 0.05), and this effect was prevented by tempol, a scavenger of superoxide. We also examined responses of cerebral (pial) arterioles (branches of the middle cerebral artery, control diameter ∼30 μm) to ACh in anesthetized mice using a cranial window. Responses to ACh, but not nitroprusside (an endothelium-independent agonist), were reduced ( P < 0.05) in cerebral arterioles in Mn-SOD+/− mice, and this effect was prevented by tempol. Thus these are the first data on the role of Mn-SOD in cerebral circulation. In the basilar artery, ACh produced nitric oxide-mediated dilation that was similar in male and female mice. Under normal conditions in cerebral arteries, responses to ACh were not altered but constrictor responses were selectively enhanced in Mn-SOD+/− mice. In the cerebral microcirculation, there was superoxide-mediated impairment of responses to ACh.

New insights into the vascular mechanisms underlying the beneficial effect of swimming training on the endothelial vasodilator function in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

The antiatherogenic role of exercise is poorly understood. We examined the swimming exercise-induced vascular mechanisms which enhance the endothelial vasodilator function in apoE(-/-) mice. Male apoE(-/-) mice treated for 9 weeks with a lipid-rich diet were divided into two groups: the exercise group (apoE(-/-) X), which underwent a 9-week swimming protocol (50 min/day; 5days/week) and the sedentary group (apoE(-/-) S). C57BL/6 mice were used as the control group. Atherosclerotic lesions in the aortic roots were significantly reduced in apoE(-/-) X compared to apoE(-/-) S. Relaxation to acetylcholine was improved in apoE(-/-) X as compared to apoE(-/-) S and control mice with E(max) and pD(2) values significantly higher. pD(2) values in response to papaverine were higher in apoE(-/-) X than in the other groups. Relaxation in response to A23187 and DEA-NONOate were similar. These findings suggest that swimming training may increase the sensitivity of relaxation to acetylcholine, which in turn activates acetylcholine-mediated signaling pathways leading to increased NO bioactivity. Swimming may also prolong the signaling actions of NO by stimulating the sensitivity of vascular smooth muscle cells to cyclic nucleotides. These appear to be the key mechanisms underlying the improvement of the NO-cGMP pathway in exercised apoE(-/-) mice.

Chronic treatment with 17beta-estradiol increases susceptibility of smooth muscle cells to nitric oxide

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the role of estrogen as a vasodilator or relaxing modulator during vascular tonus through chronic estrogen treatment. Experiments were conducted using isolated basilar arteries from ovariectomized female rabbits divided into two groups (the with and without estrogen replacement groups, respectively). Both acetylcholine and carbachol relaxed the basilar arteries of rabbits in the with estrogen replacement group (pre-contracted by 30 mM K(+)) more strongly than in the without estrogen replacement group. Vasodilatation effects of (+/-)-(E)-4-methyl-2-[(E)-hydroxyimino]-5-nitro-6-methoxy-3 -hexenamide (NOR1) and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP) were greater in rabbits in the with estrogen replacement group than the without estrogen replacement both with endothelium-intact and denuded preparations. On the other hand, vasodilatation effects of nicardipine, 17beta-estradiol and membrane-permeable cyclic-GMP or cyclic-AMP were the same in both groups. These results suggest that chronic administration of estradiol potentiates reactivity to nitric oxide (NO) in smooth muscle cells, which could be a therapeutic target for cardiovascular diseases in postmenopausal women.

Endothelial NOS-mediated relaxations of isolated thoracic aorta of the C57BL/6J mouse: a methodological study

Endothelium-dependent relaxations were studied in the thoracic aorta (TA) of the C57BL/6J mouse, a strain used commonly in the generation of genetically altered mice, to clarify some methodological questions. First, we have tested if transcardial perfusion with heparinized Krebs solution before the preparation of the TA may improve in vitro relaxant responses. Carbachol, thrombin, and ATP induced significantly stronger relaxations in TAs prepared from perfused animals than in controls. The effect of sodium nitroprusside (SNP), however, did not change, indicating that the improvement of the endothelium-dependent relaxations after perfusion was not caused by increased reactivity of the vascular smooth muscle to NO. Second, the potential regional differences within the TA were studied. Carbachol relaxed significantly stronger distal than proximal TA segments, whereas the effects of thrombin, ATP, and SNP showed no regional heterogeneity. Third, the relaxant effect of carbachol was partially preserved in TAs of endothelial NOS deficient (eNOS-/-) animals and remained unchanged in the presence of indomethacin, indicating the involvement of an eNOS- and cyclooxygenase-independent mechanism in the mediation of the response. Thrombin and ATP were ineffective in eNOS-/- TAs. Finally, TAs prepared from mice housed in cages equipped with running wheels did not show improved reactivity, indicating that the conventional housing conditions and the consequent sedentary lifestyle of the laboratory mouse do not diminish endothelial function in the TA.

Infection and early atherosclerosis: does the evidence support causation?

Although clinical manifestations of atherosclerotic coronary heart disease occur in adult life, the initial stages of its development commence in childhood. Therefore, elucidating the pathogenesis of early atherosclerosis and identifying the network of risk factors have become fundamental priorities for both cardiovascular healthcare providers and scientists. There is mounting evidence from both human studies and animal experiments that infectious pathogens could be implicated in atherosclerosis development. The vulnerability of the arterial wall to the adverse effects of infection is probably augmented when additional risk factors and/or certain proatherogenic genetic profiles are also present. The precise mechanisms whereby infection, alone or in synergy with conventional cardiovascular risk factors, could contribute to atherosclerosis are not fully understood.

CONCLUSION

Injury to the vascular endothelium, which could be elicited by infection through inflammatory, metabolic, autoimmune, and pathogen-related mechanisms, might be a central link between infection and early atherosclerosis.

Aging exacerbates negative remodeling and impairs endothelial regeneration after balloon injury

Many older patients, because of their high prevalence of coronary artery disease, are candidates for percutaneous coronary interventions (PCI), but the effects of vascular aging on restenosis after PCI are not yet well understood. Balloon injury to the right carotid artery was performed in adult and old rats. Vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC) proliferation, apoptotic cell death, together with Akt induction, telomerase activity, p27kip1, and endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) expression was assessed in isolated arteries. Neointima hyperplasia and vascular remodeling along with endothelial cell regeneration were also measured after balloon injury. Arteries isolated from old rats exhibited a significant reduction of VSMC proliferation and an increase in apoptotic death after balloon injury when compared with adult rats. In the vascular wall of adult rats, balloon dilation induced Akt phosphorylation, and this was barely present in old rats. In arteries from old rats, Akt-modulated cell cycle check points like telomerase activity and p27kip1 expression were decreased and increased, respectively, compared with adults. After balloon injury, old rats showed a significant reduction of neointima formation and an increased vascular negative remodeling compared with adults. These results were coupled by a marked delay in endothelial regeneration in aged rats, partially mediated by a decreased eNOS expression and phosphorylation. Interestingly, chronic administration of l-arginine prevented negative remodeling and improved reendothelialization after balloon injury in aged animals. A decreased neointimal proliferation, an impaired endothelial regeneration, and an increase in vascular remodeling after balloon injury were observed in aged animals. The molecular mechanisms underlying these responses seem to be a reduced Akt and eNOS activity.

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptor knockout mice: novel phenotypes and clinical implications

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs; M1-M5) play key roles in regulating the activity of many important functions of the central and peripheral nervous system. Because of the lack of ligands endowed with a high degree of receptor subtype selectivity and the fact that most tissues or cell types express two or more mAChR subtypes, identification of the physiological and pathophysiological roles of the individual mAChR subtypes has proven a difficult task. To circumvent these difficulties, several laboratories recently employed gene-targeting techniques to generate mutant mouse strains deficient in each of the five mAChR subtypes. Phenotyping studies showed that each mutant mouse line displayed characteristic physiological, pharmacological, behavioral, biochemical, or neurochemical deficits. The novel insights gained from these studies should prove instrumental for the development of novel classes of muscarinic drugs.

Abnormal cholinergic and GABAergic vascular innervation in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of obesetub/tubmice

Tubby and tubby-like proteins (TULPs) are encoded by members of a small gene family. An autosomal recessive mutation in the mouse tub gene leads to blindness, deafness, and maturity-onset obesity. The mechanisms by which the mutation causes the obesity syndrome has not been established. We compared obese tub/tub mice and their lean littermates in order to find abnormalities within the mediobasal hypothalamus, a region intimately associated with the regulation of body weight. Using an antiserum to the vesicular acetylcholine transporter (VAChT), a marker for cholinergic neurons, many unusually large VAChT-immunoreactive (-ir) nerve terminals, identified by colocalization with the synaptic vesicle protein synaptophysin, were demonstrated in the hypothalamic arcuate nucleus of obese tub/tub mice. Double-labeling showed that VAChT-ir nerve endings also contained glutamic acid decarboxylase (GAD), a marker for gamma-aminobutyric acid (GABA) neurons. The VAChT- and GAD-ir nerve terminals were in close contact with blood vessels, identified with antisera to platelet endothelial cell adhesion molecule-1 (PECAM; also called CD31), laminin, smooth muscle actin (SMA), and glucose transporter-1 (GLUT1). Such large cholinergic and GABAergic nerve terminals surrounding blood vessels were not seen in the arcuate nucleus of lean tub/+ mice. The presence of abnormal cholinergic/GABAergic vascular innervation in the arcuate nucleus suggests that alterations in this region, which contains neurons that receive information from the periphery and which relays information about the energy status to other parts of the brain, may be central in the development of the obese phenotype in animals with an autosomal recessive mutation in the tub gene.

Novel insights into M5 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor function by the use of gene targeting technology

Until recently, little was known about the possible physiological functions of the M(5) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor subtype, the last member of the muscarinic receptor family (M(1)-M(5)) to be cloned. To learn more about the potential physiological roles of this receptor subtype, we generated and analyzed M(5) receptor-deficient mice (M5 -/- mice). Strikingly, acetylcholine, a potent dilator of most vascular beds, virtually lost the ability to dilate cerebral arteries and arterioles in M5 -/- mice, suggesting that endothelial M(5) receptors mediate this activity in wild-type mice. This effect was specific for cerebral blood vessels, since acetylcholine-mediated dilation of extra-cerebral arteries remained fully intact in M5 -/- mice. In addition, in vitro neurotransmitter release experiments indicated that M(5) receptors located on dopaminergic nerve terminals play a role in facilitating muscarinic agonist-induced dopamine release in the striatum, consistent with the observation that the dopaminergic neurons innervating the striatum almost exclusively express the M(5) receptor subtype. We also found that the rewarding effects of morphine, the prototypical opiate analgesic, were substantially reduced in M5 -/- mice, as measured in the conditioned place preference paradigm. Furthermore, both the somatic and affective components of naloxone-induced morphine withdrawal symptoms were significantly attenuated in M5 -/- mice. It is likely that these behavioral deficits are caused by the lack of mesolimbic M(5) receptors, activation of which is known to stimulate dopamine release in the nucleus accumbens. These results convincingly demonstrate that the M(5) muscarinic receptor is involved in modulating several important pharmacological and behavioral functions. These findings may lead to novel therapeutic strategies for the treatment of drug addiction and certain cerebrovascular disorders.

Genetic background influences therapeutic effectiveness of VEGF

Therapeutic angiogenesis has emerged as a promising therapy, but some patients are refractory to exogenous growth factors. In order to identify the genetic determinants of post-natal angiogenesis and physiological vessel formation, we investigated the genetic factors that affected ischemia-induced development of collaterals in mice. An ischemic hindlimb model was generated in C57BL/6, C3H/He, and BALB/c mice. Angiogenesis was markedly different among the mice as determined by the restoration of blood perfusion and capillary density of the ischemic muscle. Impaired collateral vessel formation in BALB/c mice was associated with reduced expression of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF). Intramuscular gene transfer of VEGF promoted collateral formation in C57BL/6J mice, but not in BALB/c mice. Ineffectiveness of VEGF in BALB/c mice was associated with impaired expression of VEGF receptor. Our findings suggest that genetic background may influence spontaneous collateral formation and therapeutic effectiveness of exogenous VEGF. Alternative strategies other than administration of VEGF alone might be needed to attain optimal angiogenesis in some patients.

Differential vasoconstrictions induced by angiotensin II: role of AT1 and AT2 receptors in isolated C57BL/6J mouse blood vessels

Genetically altered mice are increasingly used as experimental models. However, ANG II responses in mouse blood vessels have not been well defined. Therefore, the aim of this study was to determine the role of ANG II in regulating major blood vessels in C57/BL6J mice with isometric force measurements. Our results showed that in mouse abdominal aorta ANG II induced a concentration-dependent contraction (EC50 4.6 nM) with a maximum contraction of 75.1 +/- 4.9% at 100 nM compared with that of 60 mM K+. Similarly, femoral artery also exhibited a contractile response of 76.0 +/- 3.4% to the maximum concentration of ANG II (100 nM). In contrast, ANG II (100 nM)-induced contraction was significantly less in carotid artery (24.5 +/- 6.6%) and only minimal (3.5 +/- 0.31%) in thoracic aorta. The nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester and the AT2 antagonist PD-123319 failed to enhance ANG II-induced contractions. However, an AT1 antagonist, losartan (10 microM), completely inhibited ANG II (100 nM) response in abdominal aorta and carotid artery. An AT1 agonist, [Sar1]-ANG II (100 nM), behaved similarly to ANG II (100 nM) in abdominal aorta and carotid artery. RT-PCR analyses showed that mouse thoracic aorta has a significantly lower AT1 mRNA level than abdominal aorta. These results demonstrate that major mouse vessels exhibit differential contractions to ANG II, possibly because of varied AT1 receptor levels.

Novel insights into muscarinic acetylcholine receptor function using gene targeting technology

Muscarinic acetylcholine receptors (mAChRs) modulate the activity of an extraordinarily large number of physiological functions. Individual members of the mAChR family (M(1)-M(5)) are expressed in a complex, overlapping fashion in most tissues and cell types. However, the identification of the precise physiological roles of individual mAChR subtypes remains a challenging task because, with the exception of a few snake toxins, mAChR ligands that can activate or inhibit specific mAChR subtypes with a high degree of selectivity are not yet available. Knowledge of the specific roles of mAChR subtypes is of considerable interest for the development of novel, clinically useful mAChR ligands. In this article, recent studies of mutant mouse strains developed, using gene targeting techniques, to be deficient in one of the three G(q)-coupled mAChR subtypes (M(1), M(3) and M(5)) are discussed. These investigations have led to many important new insights into the physiological roles of these receptor subtypes.

High-resolution MRI with cardiac and respiratory gating allows for accurate in vivo atherosclerotic plaque visualization in the murine aortic arch

Genetically engineered mouse models provide enormous potential for investigation of the underlying mechanisms of atherosclerotic disease, but noninvasive imaging methods for analysis of atherosclerosis in mice are currently limited. This study aimed to demonstrate the feasibility of MRI to noninvasively visualize atherosclerotic plaques in the thoracic aorta in mice deficient in apolipoprotein-E, who develop atherosclerotic lesions similar to those observed in humans. To freeze motion, MR data acquisition was both ECG- and respiratory-gated. T(1)-weighted MR images were acquired with TR/TE approximately 1000/10 ms. Spatial image resolution was 49 x 98 x 300 micro m(3). MRI revealed a detailed view of the lumen and the vessel wall of the entire thoracic aorta. Comparison of MRI with corresponding cross-sectional histopathology showed excellent agreement of aortic vessel wall area (r = 0.97). Hence, noninvasive MRI should allow new insights into the mechanisms involved in progression and regression of atherosclerotic disease.

Morphometry and strain distribution of the C57BL/6 mouse aorta

The goal of the present study was to obtain a systematic set of data along the length of the mouse aorta to study variations of morphometry (diameter, wall thickness, and curvature), strain, and stress of the mouse aorta. Five mice were imaged with a 13-MHz ultrasound probe to determine the in vivo diameter along the aorta. A cast was made of these aortas to validate the ultrasonic diameter measurements. The root mean squared and systematic errors for these measurements were 12.6% and 6.4% of the mean ultrasound diameter, respectively. The longitudinal variations of geometry, stress, and strain from the aortic valve to the common iliac bifurcation were documented. Our results show that the residual circumferential strain leads to a uniformity of transmural strain of the aorta in the loaded state along the entire length of the aorta. Furthermore, we validated the incompressibility condition along the length of the aorta. These data of normal mice will serve as a reference state for the study of disease in future knockout models.

Strain-dependent variation in vascular responses to nitric oxide in the isolated murine heart

Numerous studies in the literature have employed gene-modified mice to investigate vascular function. However, only very limited information exists on baseline murine vascular physiology or on potential variations between different strains. We therefore compared coronary and aortic vascular responses to endothelium-derived vasodilators and exogenous nitric oxide (NO) in three commonly used mouse strains and correlated these data with expression of eNOS, NADPH oxidase subunits, gp91(phox) and p67(phox), and superoxide production. Isolated perfused hearts from MF1, 129sv and C57BL/6J mice were subjected to: (a) increasing doses of bradykinin, acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside, and (b) bolus doses of adenosine and the NO synthase inhibitor, N(G)-monomethyl- L -arginine. Vascular responses of thoracic aortic rings were assessed for comparison. Expression of eNOS and NADPH oxidase subunits was assessed by immunoblotting, and superoxide production by lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence. Coronary vasodilator responses to bradykinin, acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were significantly attenuated in MF1 compared with C57BL/6J and 129sv hearts. Similarly, aortic relaxation to acetylcholine was significantly impaired in MF1 aortic rings compared with in C57BL/6J aortae; these differences were reversed by Tiron. N(G)-monomethyl- L -arginine induced significantly less vasoconstriction in MF1 and 129sv hearts compared with C57BL/6J. No differences in aortic relaxation to A23187 or sodium nitroprusside were observed. Cardiac and aortic superoxide production and cardiac expression of p67(phox) and gp91(phox) were significantly greater in MF1 mice compared with the other strains. There is significant strain-dependent variation in coronary and aortic vascular responsiveness in mice, which may reflect differences in the balance between NO and superoxide generation.

Superoxide contributes to vascular dysfunction in mice that express human renin and angiotensinogen

This study examined vascular function and the role of superoxide in mice that chronically express human renin (R+) and human angiotensinogen (A+). Responses of aortas from R+/A+ mice and from their normotensive littermates (RA- mice) were examined in vitro. Endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine was impaired in vessels from R+/A+ mice (e.g., maximal relaxation to 100 microM acetylcholine was 45 +/- 5% and 65 +/- 3% in R+/A+ and RA- mice, respectively; P < 0.05). Relaxation was also impaired to the endothelium-independent dilators authentic nitric oxide and nitroprusside in vessels from R+/A+ mice. Maximal vasorelaxation to the endothelium-independent, non-nitric oxide dilator papaverine was similar in R+/A+ and RA- mice. Incubation of vessels from R+/A+ mice with Tiron (1 mM), a superoxide scavenger, improved relaxation to acetylcholine, nitric oxide, and nitroprusside. In contrast, incubation with diethyldithiocarbamate (1 mM), an inhibitor of copper-containing SODs, reduced acetylcholine- and nitroprusside-induced relaxation in vessels from both R+/A+ and RA- mice. Basal superoxide levels, measured with lucigenin-enhanced chemiluminescence (5 microM lucigenin) and hydroethidine-based fluorescent confocal microscopy, were higher in vessels from R+/A+ mice and were Tiron and polyethylene glycol-SOD sensitive. These results suggest that increased superoxide contributes to impaired nitric oxide-mediated relaxation in this genetic model of chronic angiotensin II-dependent hypertension.

A knockout approach indicates a minor vasoconstrictor role for vascular alpha1B-adrenoceptors in mouse

Pharmacological analysis alone has failed to clarify the role of the three alpha(1)-adrenoceptor subtypes in modulating vascular tone, due to a lack of sufficiently selective antagonists, particularly for the alpha (1B)-adrenoceptor, and the complexity when three receptor subtypes are potentially activated by the same agonist. We adopted a combined genetics/ pharmacology strategy based on the alpha(1B)-adrenoceptor knockout (KO) mouse. The potency of three alpha(1)-adrenoceptor antagonists vs. phenylephrine was tested in aorta, carotid, mesenteric, and caudal isolated arteries from KO and wild-type (WT) mice. In the KO mouse the pharmacology became straightforward, showing alpha(1D) in two major conducting arteries (aorta and carotid) and alpha(1A) in two distributing arteries (mesenteric and caudal). By combining antagonist pharmacology and genetics, we provide a simplified analysis of alpha(1)-mediated vasoconstriction, demonstrating that alpha(1D) and alpha(1A) are the major subtypes involved in vasoconstriction, with a minor but definite contribution from alpha(1B) in every vessel.

Conditional immortalization of growth factor-responsive cardiac endothelial cells from H-2K(b)-tsA58 mice

Although mouse endothelial cells (EC) may advance our understanding of endothelial function, primary EC remain difficult to isolate. We have established a murine cardiac endothelial cell line (MCEC-1) from transgenic mice harboring a temperature-sensitive simian virus 40 large TAg gene (tsA58 TAg) under H-2K(b) class I promoter control. MCEC-1 cells were characterized by their ability to form tubes, Griffonia simplicifolia isolectin B4 binding, and CD31, intercellular adhesion molecule (ICAM)-2, and endoglin expression. MCEC-1 cells proliferated rapidly under permissive conditions [33 degrees C with interferon (IFN)-gamma], where the T antigen is active and transcription is activated by the presence of IFN-gamma, whereas under nonpermissive conditions (38 degrees C without IFN-gamma) proliferation was reduced by 30-fold and the EC showed enhanced proliferation in response to growth factors. Expression of E- and P-selectin, ICAM-1, and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 was upregulated by tumor necrosis factor-alpha and interleukin-1 beta, and MCEC-1 cells, in contrast to primary EC, were amenable to transfection by lipofection. This novel line will allow further study of the role of the endothelium in cardiovascular disease. Moreover, this technique will allow EC to be readily obtained from genetically modified mice backcrossed with H-2K(b)-tsA58 mice.

Effects of age, gender, and blood pressure on myogenic responses of mesenteric arteries from C57BL/6 mice

The myogenic response (MR) may represent an important physiological parameter underlying arterial blood pressure (BP). We studied the effects of age, gender, and BP on the MR of mesenteric arteries from 8- to 52-wk-old mice. Increasing age and BP are associated with an increase in the perfusion pressure at which tone develops (myogenic set point). An inverse correlation exists between age and extent (magnitude) of the MR in male (r(2) = 0.93, P = 0.0087) and female mice (r(2) = 0.90, P = 0.013) as well as between BP and extent of the MR in male (r(2) = 0.96, P = 0.0036) and female (r(2) = 0.90, P = 0.014) mice. In contrast, the strength of the MR (slope of active diameter-pressure relationship) and phenylephrine-mediated constriction did not differ among these groups. Although gender had no effect on MR at any perfusion pressure or age, only male mice showed significant salt-induced hypertension and an associated increase in the set point and reduction in the extent of the MR. The set point and extent of the MR is linked to the in vivo pressure during development and experimental hypertension.

Cholinergic dilation of cerebral blood vessels is abolished in M(5) muscarinic acetylcholine receptor knockout mice

The M(5) muscarinic receptor is the most recent member of the muscarinic acetylcholine receptor family (M(1)-M(5)) to be cloned. At present, the physiological relevance of this receptor subtype remains unknown, primarily because of its low expression levels and the lack of M(5) receptor-selective ligands. To circumvent these difficulties, we used gene targeting technology to generate M(5) receptor-deficient mice (M5R(-/-) mice). M5R(-/-) mice did not differ from their wild-type littermates in various behavioral and pharmacologic tests. However, in vitro neurotransmitter release experiments showed that M(5) receptors play a role in facilitating muscarinic agonist-induced dopamine release in the striatum. Because M(5) receptor mRNA has been detected in several blood vessels, we also investigated whether the lack of M(5) receptors led to changes in vascular tone by using several in vivo and in vitro vascular preparations. Strikingly, acetylcholine, a powerful dilator of most vascular beds, virtually lost the ability to dilate cerebral arteries and arterioles in M5R(-/-) mice. This effect was specific for cerebral blood vessels, because acetylcholine-mediated dilation of extra-cerebral arteries remained fully intact in M5R(-/-) mice. Our findings provide direct evidence that M(5) muscarinic receptors are physiologically relevant. Because it has been suggested that impaired cholinergic dilation of cerebral blood vessels may play a role in the pathophysiology of Alzheimer's disease and focal cerebral ischemia, cerebrovascular M(5) receptors may represent an attractive therapeutic target.

Differential distribution of beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes in blood vessels of knockout mice lacking beta(1)- or beta(2)-adrenergic receptors

beta-Adrenergic receptors (beta-AR) are essential regulators of cardiovascular homeostasis. In addition to their prominent function in the heart, beta-AR are located on vascular smooth muscle cells, where they mediate vasodilating effects of endogenous catecholamines. In this study, we have investigated in an isometric myograph different types of blood vessels from mice lacking beta(1)- and/or beta(2)-adrenergic receptor subtypes (beta(1)-KO, beta(2)-KO, beta(1)beta(2)-KO). In wild-type mice, isoproterenol induced relaxation of segments from thoracic aorta, carotid, femoral and pulmonary arteries, and portal vein. The relaxant effect of beta-receptor stimulation was absent in femoral and pulmonary arteries from beta(1)-KO mice. In aortic and carotid arteries and in portal veins, the vasodilating effect of isoproterenol was reduced in mice lacking beta(1)- or beta(2)-receptors. However, in these vessels the vasodilating effect was only abolished in double KO mice lacking both beta(1)- and beta(2)-receptors. Vessel relaxation induced by forskolin did not differ between wild-type and KO mice. Similar contributions of beta(1)- and beta(2)-receptors to isoproterenol-induced vasorelaxation were found when vessels from KO mice were compared with wild-type arteries in the presence of subtype-selective beta-receptor antagonists. These studies demonstrate that beta(1)-adrenergic receptors play a dominant role in the murine vascular system to mediate vasodilation. Surprisingly, beta(2)-receptors contribute to adrenergic vasodilation only in a few major blood vessels, suggesting that differential distribution of beta-adrenergic receptor subtypes may play an important role in redirection of tissue perfusion.

Omapatrilat, a dual angiotensin-converting enzyme and neutral endopeptidase inhibitor, prevents fatty streak deposit in apolipoprotein E-deficient mice

Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) is mainly responsible for converting angiotensin I (AI) to angiotensin II (AII), and ACE inhibitors prevent atherosclerosis in animal models. Neutral endopeptidase 24.11 (NEP) degrades substance P, kinins and atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), and aortic wall NEP activity was found to be increased in atherosclerosis. In the present study, we have evaluated the effect of candoxatril, a NEP inhibitor, and of omapatrilat, a dual ACE and NEP inhibitor, on the development of fatty streak in apolipoprotein E (apoE)-deficient mice. Groups of ten male apoE-deficient mice were given either placebo, candoxatril 50 mg/kg per day, or omapatrilat 10, or 100 mg/kg per day for 4 months. None of the treatments influenced body weight, serum total or HDL-cholesterol. Compared with the placebo, candoxatril did not protect the mice from fatty streak deposit. In contrast, omapatrilat dose dependently inhibited the constitution of fatty streak in apoE-deficient mice. The precise advantages of the dual ACE and NEP inhibition versus the inhibition of only ACE should now be considered in the prevention of atherosclerosis as well as in the occurrence of its complications.

A mouse model of vascular injury that induces rapid onset of medial cell apoptosis followed by reproducible neointimal hyperplasia

Genetically modified mice serve as a powerful tool to determine the role of specific molecules in a wide variety of biological phenomena including vascular remodeling. Several models of arterial injury have been proposed to analyze transgenic/knock-out mice, but many questions have been raised about their reproducibility and physiological significance. Here, we report a new mouse model of vascular injury that resembles balloon-angioplasty. A straight spring wire was inserted into the femoral artery via arterioctomy in a small muscular branch. The wire was left in place for one minute to denude and dilate the artery. After the wire was removed, the muscular branch was tied off and the blood flow of the femoral artery was restored. The lumen was enlarged with rapid onset of medial cell apoptosis. While the circumference of the external elastic lamina remained enlarged, the lumen was gradually narrowed by neointimal hyperplasia composed of smooth muscle cells. At 4 weeks, a concentric and homogeneous neointimal lesion was formed reproducibly in the region where the wire had been inserted. Similar exuberant hyperplasia could be induced in all strains examined (C57BL/6J, C3H/HeJ, BALB/c, and 129/SVj). This model may be widely used to study the molecular mechanism of post-angioplasty restenosis at the genetic level.

Novel endothelium-derived relaxing factors. Identification of factors and cellular targets

Nitric oxide (NO), together with prostacyclin (PGI2), mediates shear stress and endothelium-dependent vasodilator-mediated vasorelaxation. In the presence of inhibition of NO synthase (NOS) with nitroarginine analogues, such as of N(w)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) and N(w)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), and indomethacin, to inhibit cyclooxygenase (COX) and the synthesis of PGI2, many blood vessels still respond with an endothelium-dependent relaxation to either chemical [i.e. acetylcholine (ACh)] or mechanical (shear stress) activation. This non-NO and non-PGI2 vasorelaxation appears to be mediated by hyperpolarization of the vascular smooth muscle cell (VSMC). Although NO can hyperpolarize VSMC, a novel mediator, the endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF), which opens a VSMC K(+) channel(s) notably in resistance vessels, has been proposed. Little agreement exists as to the nature of this putative factor, but several candidate molecules have been proposed and evidence, notably from the microcirculation, suggests that endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization (EDH) may be mediated via low electrical resistance coupling via myoendothelial gap junctions. We describe a number of techniques that are being used to identify EDHF and present data that address the contribution of a small increase in extracellular K(+) as an EDHF.

Gene transfer of endothelial nitric oxide isoform decreases rat hindlimb vascular resistance in vivo

The objective of this study was to design a methodology of gene transfer into a resistance vascular bed and to show if such a method can be used to examine the physiological function of a given gene product in vivo. We developed such a method and validated it by defining the role in vivo of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS). In a constant flow perfused rat hindlimb, gene transfer to the vascular endothelium was accomplished by incubating a "first-generation" serotype 5, replication-deficient, adenoviral vector (1.2 X 10(9) plaque-forming units/ml) containing cDNA encoding either the eNOS or the beta-galactosidase (beta-Gal) gene in the hindlimb vasculature for 30 min. Five days after infection, immunohistochemical staining for eNOS localized recombinant gene expression to vascular endothelial cells and eNOS protein levels were increased fourfold (11.9 +/- 6.6 vs. 2.9 +/- 1.3 intensity units/microg protein, n = 4, p < 0.05). Perfusion pressures were measured at different flow rates (10-50 ml/min). In addition, basal and acetylcholine (ACh)-stimulated vascular resistance (VR) in phenylephrine (PE)-precontracted (100 microM) hindlimb was measured at constant flow. There were flow-dependent increases (p < 0.05) in perfusion pressure. Overexpression of eNOS shifted the pressure-flow curve downward and administration of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) shifted the curve upward. Compared with beta-Gal-transfected rats, PE-induced VR decreased (p < 0.05) in eNOS-transfected rats (100 +/- 27 vs. 164 +/- 49 mmHg, n = 5). Addition of 100 microM L-NAME increased (p < 0.05) PE-induced VR in both eNOS-transfected and control rats (145 +/- 50 and 232 +/- 38 mmHg, n = 5, p < 0.05), respectively, which was partially abolished by L-arginine pretreatment. ACh-induced vasorelaxation was increased 45% (p < 0.05) in eNOS-transfected hindlimbs. L-NAME decreased (p < 0.05) ACh-induced vasorelaxation by 58% in eNOS-transfected hindlimbs versus 25% in beta-Gal-transfected hindlimbs (p < 0.05). We used this gene transfer method to examine the physiological function of a gene product in vivo and showed that (1) the flow-pressure relationship in the hindlimb vascular bed is NO dependent and (2) the eNOS enzyme modulates NO-mediated vasorelaxation in the rat hindlimb resistance arteries in vivo.