title: Selective inhibition by barbiturates of the synthesis of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in the rabbit carotid artery.
abstract: 1. Several lines of evidence suggest that both volatile and intravenous anaesthetics may interfere with the synthesis and release of endothelium-derived vasoactive factors. We have investigated the effects of three different barbiturates on the release of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) in phenylephrine (1 microM)-preconstricted, endothelium-intact ring segments of the rabbit carotid artery. The segments were pretreated with the cyclo-oxygenase inhibitor, diclofenac (1 microM), to prevent the formation of vasoactive prostanoids, such as prostacyclin (PGI2). 2. Acetylcholine (ACh) elicited a concentration-dependent relaxation (EC50 0.15 microM) in control segments which was not significantly different from the relaxant responses of segments pretreated with methohexitone (0.03-0.3 mM), phenobarbitone (0.1-0.3 mM) or thiopentone (0.1-0.3 mM). 3. Inhibition of NO synthesis with NG-nitro-L-arginine (0.1 mM) significantly reduced the maximum relaxant response to ACh from 96 to 40%. This NO/PGI2-independent relaxation appeared to be mediated by the release of EDHF, since it was strongly diminished in the presence of the K+Ca inhibitors, tetrabutylammonium (1-3 mM) and charybdotoxin (10 nM), following preconstriction with potassium calcium (40 mM) or removal of the endothelium. Thiopentone or methohexitone markedly attenuated the EDHF-mediated relaxant response to ACh, while phenobarbitone had no effect. The endothelium-independent relaxation elicited by sodium nitroprusside (0.01-10 microM), on the other hand, was only marginally affected by these anaesthetics. 4. The cytochrome P450 inhibitor, clotrimazole (3-100 microM), mimicked the inhibitory effect of thiopentone and methohexitone on the NO/PGI2-independent relaxant response to ACh. Moreover the cytochrome P450-catalyzed O-dealkylation of 7-ethoxycoumarin by rabbit liver microsomes was inhibited in the presence of thiopentone or methohexitone (0.3-1 mM), while phenobarbitone was without effect.5. These findings suggest that thiopentone and methohexitone selectively attenuate the EDHF-mediated relaxant response to ACh in the rabbit carotid artery, presumably by interfering with its synthesis from arachidonic acid via the cytochrome P450 epoxygenase pathway.
authors.affiliation: Centre of Physiology, Johann Wolfgang Goethe University Clinic, Frankfurt am Main, Germany.
authors.forename: V
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Lischke
authors.forename: R
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Busse
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hecker
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001463:Barbiturates / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D008297:Male; D009126:Muscle Relaxation; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D013874:Thiopental / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001463:Barbiturates; D001685:Biological Factors; C067410:endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization factor; D010656:Phenylephrine; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D013874:Thiopental; D000109:Acetylcholine