Thimerosal hyperpolarizes arterial smooth muscles in an endothelium-dependent manner.
Thimerosal activates the production of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). I examined whether thimerosal also causes the release of an endothelium-dependent hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). Thimerosal caused an endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization of smooth muscle. This effect is unlikely to be caused by the property of thimerosal to inhibit the acyl-coenzyme A: lysolecithin acyltransferase (LAT) since neither arachidonic acid nor lysolecithin hyperpolarized the muscles. I conclude that thimerosal is not a pure activator of EDRF (nitric oxide) production, but that it also releases a distinct EDHF.
Bény
J L
JL
Départment de Biologie Animale, Université de Genève, Switzerland.
D008243:1-Acylglycerophosphocholine O-Acyltransferase / Q000378:metabolism; D000818:Animals; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D001095:Arachidonic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D003331:Coronary Vessels / Q000187:drug effects; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis; D013552:Swine; D013849:Thimerosal / Q000494:pharmacology*
D001095:Arachidonic Acids; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D013849:Thimerosal; D016718:Arachidonic Acid; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D008243:1-Acylglycerophosphocholine O-Acyltransferase