Auch–Schwelk, Wolfgang

Acetylcholine evokes the simultaneous release of endothelium-derived relaxing and contracting factors in aortas from spontaneously hypertensive rats. Only relaxing factors are released in aortas from normotensive controls. Experiments were designed to determine whether inhibitors of endothelium-dependent relaxations modify endothelium-dependent contractions. Rings of thoracic aortas of normotensive and spontaneously hypertensive rats, with and without endothelium, were suspended in organ chambers for isometric tension recording. Oxyhemoglobin (a scavenger of endothelium-derived relaxing factor) and NG-monomethyl L-arginine (an inhibitor of nitric oxide formation) augmented the contractions to acetylcholine. Methylene blue (an inhibitor of soluble guanylate cyclase) and superoxide dismutase (a scavenger of superoxide anions) did not modify these contractions. The contractions in the presence of oxyhemoglobin or NG-monomethyl L-arginine, like those in untreated rings, were endothelium-dependent; they only occurred in aortas from spontaneously hypertensive rats and were abolished by indomethacin. The contractions to acetylcholine in the presence of oxyhemoglobin were not affected by superoxide dismutase or deferoxamine. These data suggest that endothelium-derived relaxing factor inhibits endothelium-dependent contractions to acetylcholine in the spontaneously hypertensive rat aorta, probably by chemical inactivation of the endothelium-derived contracting factor rather than by stimulation of guanylate cyclase or scavenging of oxygen-derived free radicals.

Endothelium-dependent contractions to acetylcholine and endothelium-independent contractions to oxygen-derived free radicals in the aorta of the spontaneously hypertensive rat (SHR) are mediated by an unidentified product of the cyclooxygenase pathway of arachidonic acid metabolism. To determine the role of thromboxane A2 (TXA2) or prostaglandin H2 (PGH2) in these contractions, rings of the thoracic aorta of SHR were suspended in organ chambers for measurement of isometric force. Acetylcholine caused endothelium-dependent contractions in quiescent rings from SHR aortas. Oxygen-derived free radicals generated with xanthine plus xanthine oxidase caused contractions in rings without endothelium. Dazoxiben (thromboxane synthetase inhibitor) did not affect contractions evoked by acetylcholine. AH 23,848, SQ 29,548, or R 68,070 (TXA2/PGH2 receptor antagonists) inhibited contractions to U 46,619 (a TXA2/PGH2 receptor agonist), acetylcholine, and oxygen-derived free radicals. Acetylcholine stimulated the release of prostacyclin from Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rat and SHR aortas but not the release of other prostaglandins (PGE2, PGF2 alpha, TXA2). Oxygen-derived free radicals did not stimulate the release of prostaglandins from either SHR or WKY rat aortas. These results demonstrate that stimulation of TXA2/PGH2 receptors probably by PGH2 might be involved in endothelium-dependent contractions. Oxygen-derived free radicals, which might be an endothelium-derived contracting factor or factors, ultimately cause contraction by stimulation of TXA2/PGH2 receptors.

To determine if oxygen-derived free radicals are mediators of endothelium-dependent contractions to acetylcholine in the aorta of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR), the mechanism of contraction to xanthine plus xanthine oxidase was studied. Rings, with and without endothelium, of thoracic aorta from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats and SHR were suspended in organ chambers for isometric tension recording. Oxygen-derived free radicals caused concentration-dependent contractions; these contractions were twice as large in the aortas of SHR than in WKY rats. Deferoxamine reversed the response to xanthine oxidase to a small relaxation. Either allopurinol, superoxide dismutase, or catalase, or the combination of superoxide dismutase plus catalase reduced the contractions. Diltiazem inhibited the response to xanthine oxidase; in contrast, phentolamine plus propranolol did not affect it. Indomethacin and meclofenamate, but not tranylcypromine or dazoxiben blocked the contractions. Endothelium-dependent contractions to acetylcholine in aortas from the SHR were not affected by deferoxamine or superoxide dismutase plus catalase. These data suggest that hydroxyl radicals cause contractions in the rat aorta, which are dependent on extracellular calcium and mediated by activation of the cyclooxygenase in the vascular smooth muscle. The augmented contractions in the hypertensive strain are due to an increased reactivity of the smooth muscle to oxygen-derived free radicals. However, the lack of effect of the scavengers on endothelium-dependent contractions to acetylcholine suggests that the endothelium-derived contracting factor is chemically different from oxygen-derived free radicals.