title: The effect of atropine on cadmium- and nickel-induced constriction of vascular smooth muscle of the dogfish shark ventral aorta.
abstract: We investigated the effect of blockade of muscarinic, cholinergic receptors by atropine on the Cd2(+)- and Ni2(+)-induced vasoconstriction of rings of endothelium-free, vascular smooth muscle from the ventral aorta of the dogfish shark, Squalus acanthias. Atropine reduced the Cd2(+)-induced vasoconstriction by approximately 50%, but did not alter the Ni2(+)-induced vasoconstriction, suggesting that the vasoactivity of these two metals may be, at least partially, via different pathways. In addition, this is the first demonstration that one component of Cd2+ vaso-toxicity may be via stimulation of muscarinic receptors.
authors.affiliation: Center for Membrane Toxicity Studies, Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory, Salsbury Cove, ME 04672.
authors.forename: D H
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Evans
authors.forename: K E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Weingarten
authors.forename: J S
authors.initials: JS
authors.lastname: Walton
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000187:drug effects; D001285:Atropine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002104:Cadmium / Q000633:toxicity*; D004284:Dogfish; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009532:Nickel / Q000633:toxicity*; D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D011976:Receptors, Muscarinic; D002104:Cadmium; D001285:Atropine; D009532:Nickel