title: Contractile effect of endothelin-2 on the isolated human saphenous vein.
abstract: The contractile effect of endothelin-2 was investigated in isolated human saphenous vein preparations. Spare segments taken from revascularized patients were set up in isolated organ chambers and mechanical activity was recorded under isometric conditions. Endothelin-2 (10(-11)-10(-7) M) evoked a dose-dependent contractile response, having the same efficacy as noradrenaline and 100 times its potency. Conversely, the "selective" ETB agonist, C-terminal hexapeptide endothelin (16-21), was completely ineffective. The activity of endothelin-2 was not modified by phentolamine, saralasin and indomethacin, thus excluding a direct or indirect activation of alpha-adrenoceptors and angiotensin receptors as well as the synthesis of cyclooxygenase products. Calcium removal from nutrient fluid depressed, but not fully abolished, the contractile effect of endothelin-2; furthermore, calcium channel blockers, verapamil and nifedipine, produced only a partial inhibition of the endothelin-2-induced contractions. These observations suggest that endothelin-2 induces a direct activation of specific receptors in the saphenous vein muscle and that both intracellular and extracellular calcium pools may be involved in the contractile effect of the peptide.
authors.affiliation: Institute of Pharmacology, University of Parma, Italy.
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Poli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Casoli
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Spaggiari
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Starcich
authors.forename: G
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Bertaccini
mesh_terms: D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D016232:Endothelins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D010646:Phentolamine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012501:Saphenous Vein / Q000187:drug effects; D012504:Saralasin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D016232:Endothelins; D012504:Saralasin; D002118:Calcium; D007213:Indomethacin; D010646:Phentolamine