title: Modulation of vascular tone by endothelin-1: role of preload, endothelial integrity and concentration of endothelin-1.
abstract: 1. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) has been shown to exert both arterial relaxant and constrictor effects. To examine the mechanisms of these divergent effects, rat aortic rings were suspended in an organ bath (baseline preload, 5 g) and exposed to ET-1 (10(-11) to 10(-7) M). ET-1 contracted these rings in a concentration-dependent fashion. 2. When aortic rings were contracted with noradrenaline (NA) to 1 g of tension, ET-1 caused further contraction of these rings. In rings precontracted to 2 to 4 g of tension, low concentrations of ET-1 (10(-11) to 10(-9) M) caused a significant relaxation, but high concentrations (greater than or equal to 5 x 10(-9) M) caused a marked contraction, indicating both relaxant and contractile effects of ET-1 depending on the preload and ET-1 concentration. 3. To determine the mechanism of ET-1-induced relaxation, aortic rings were pretreated with the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) an inhibitor of synthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), or oxyhaemoglobin (Hb) which decreases the activity of EDRF, prior to their exposure to ET-1. Both indomethacin and L-NMMA markedly (P less than 0.01) attenuated ET-1-induced relaxation, whereas Hb totally abolished it. Removal of the endothelium from aortic rings also abolished ET-1-mediated relaxation. 4. The relaxant effect of ET-1 in NA-precontracted rings was associated with marked accumulation of guanosine 3':5'-cyclic monophosphate (cyclic GMP), whereas ET-1-induced contraction of quiescent rings was not. 5.In manually stretched rings (4 g of tension), ET-l caused only concentration-dependent contraction, but no cyclic GMP accumulation.6. Thus, ET-1 contracts rat aortic rings with intact endothelium and those which are passively stretched. However, stimulation of rat aortic rings with NA to modest tension alters the contractile effect of ET-1 to a potent relaxant effect. The ET-l-mediated relaxation in this setting appears to be endothelium-dependent and is related to release of both cyclo-oxygenase products and EDRF.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medicine, College of Medicine, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610.
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: D L
authors.initials: DL
authors.lastname: Lawson
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Mehta
authors.forename: W W
authors.initials: WW
authors.lastname: Nichols
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects*; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016232:Endothelins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D010108:Oxyhemoglobins; D019323:omega-N-Methylarginine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D001120:Arginine; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D009638:Norepinephrine; D007213:Indomethacin