title: Effects of endothelin on resistance arteries of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats.
abstract: The effect of endothelin (ET)-1 was investigated on resistance arteries of less than 300-microns lumen diameter from the mesenteric circulation, mounted on a wire myograph, in deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive rats within 2 wk of developing hypertension and in uninephrectomized controls. Arteries from DOCA-salt hypertensive rats presented a significantly reduced external and lumen diameter and increased media width and wall cross-sectional area. Vessels from DOCA-salt hypertensive rats responded to ET-1 with lower active wall tension and media stress. Because the lumen diameter was significantly decreased in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats, the active pressure developed in response to ET-1 was similar in both groups. In contrast, the maximal tension response to arginine vasopressin was enhanced in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats. The sensitivity to both peptides and norepinephrine (NE) was similar in both groups. After removal of endothelium by exposure to the nonionic detergent 3-[(3-cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate, ET-1 elicited tension responses that were also lower in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats, whereas NE responses were similar in both groups. These results demonstrate significant morphological and functional changes in small arteries of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats within 2 wk of developing hypertension and blunted reactivity to ET-1. Because similar results were found after removal of endothelium, it is likely that neither prior receptor occupation by endogenous ET nor acute effects of other endothelial cell products play a role in the reduced responsiveness to ET of vascular smooth muscle of small resistance arteries of DOCA-salt hypertensive rats.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Hypertension Laboratory, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, Quebec, Canada.
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Schiffrin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin / Q000494:pharmacology; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; D016232:Endothelins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D006652:Histological Techniques; D006973:Hypertension / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000473:pathology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011189:Potassium Chloride / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011919:Rats, Inbred Strains; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D014655:Vascular Resistance
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D001127:Arginine Vasopressin; D003900:Desoxycorticosterone; D012965:Sodium Chloride; D011189:Potassium Chloride; D009638:Norepinephrine