title: Lysolecithins as endothelium-dependent vascular smooth muscle relaxants that differ from endothelium-derived relaxing factor (nitric oxide)
abstract: The effects of lysolecithin (lysophosphatidylcholine) derived from egg yolk as well as of synthetic lysolecithins with different aliphatic chain lengths on tension development of rabbit aortic strips were investigated. Lysolecithins caused slowly progressing, dose-dependent relaxation that was inhibited by hemoglobin, methylene blue, and nordihydroguiaretic acid. Indomethacin caused no inhibition of relaxation. The degree of relaxation was endothelium-dependent and appeared to be related to the activation of guanylate cyclase [GTP pyrophosphate-lyase (cyclizing), EC 4.6.1.2]. Superoxide dismutase failed to influence relaxation. Lysolecithins with the longest aliphatic chain were the most potent relaxants of aortic strips. The experiments suggest a role of lysolecithins through their weak detergent action on membrane dynamics of endothelial cells, resulting in the production of cyclic GMP and the relaxation of arterial smooth muscle. Lysolecithins differ in several respects from endothelium-derived relaxing factor. Endothelium-derived relaxing factor is an unstable humoral substance released from endothelium and is identical to nitric oxide, itself a labile substance causing vascular relaxation and cyclic GMP accumulation. Lysolecithins may represent a different type of endothelium-dependent muscle relaxant.
authors.affiliation: Department of Experimental Cardiology, Huntington Medical Research Institutes, Pasadena, CA 91105.
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Saito
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wolf
authors.forename: N K
authors.initials: NK
authors.lastname: Menon
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Saeed
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Alves
authors.forename: R J
authors.initials: RJ
authors.lastname: Bing
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D006454:Hemoglobins / Q000494:pharmacology; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D009637:Masoprocol / Q000494:pharmacology; D008751:Methylene Blue / Q000494:pharmacology; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors; D006454:Hemoglobins; D008244:Lysophosphatidylcholines; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D009637:Masoprocol; D000109:Acetylcholine; D008751:Methylene Blue; D007213:Indomethacin