In vitro arterial responses to vasopressin in subjects with a family history of hypertension.
Intrinsic vascular responsiveness was examined in isolated, helically cut strips of cystic artery from 32 normotensive women. Contractions were elicited by vasopressin, norepinephrine, 5-hydroxytryptamine and transmural electrical stimulation. Of the 32 subjects, 17 had a family history of hypertension in a first-degree relative (parent, sibling, or adult offspring) and 15 had no family history of hypertension. The ages and mean arterial blood pressures of the two groups were not different: 39 +/- 12 versus 35 +/- 11 years (mean +/- SD; p = 0.263) and 87 +/- 4 versus 85 +/- 5 mm Hg (p = 0.214) respectively. The vasopressin dose-response curve was significantly shifted to the left for arteries of those subjects with a family history of hypertension compared with that for arteries of subjects with no family history (e.g., response--percent of norepinephrine maximum--to 100 mU/ml = 31 +/- 23 versus 12 +/- 16; p = 0.014). All other responses were not significantly different, although in general the arteries of those subjects with a family history tended to have greater responses to all stimuli except norepinephrine. Arteries from the two groups did not differ with respect to physical dimensions (e.g., cross-sectional area), passive mechanical properties, or maximal responses to norepinephrine. The data indicate that altered intrinsic vascular responsiveness is linked to a family history of hypertension in normotensive subjects and thus could play a role in the familial aggregation of elevated blood pressure.
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000187:drug effects; D004558:Electric Stimulation; D005260:Female; D005704:Gallbladder / Q000098:blood supply; D006801:Humans; D006973:Hypertension / Q000235:genetics / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008875:Middle Aged; D009119:Muscle Contraction; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000503:physiopathology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology; D014667:Vasopressins / Q000494:pharmacology*
D014667:Vasopressins; D012701:Serotonin; D009638:Norepinephrine