title: Modulation of tachyphylaxis to angiotensin II in rabbit isolated aorta by the angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan.
abstract: In rabbit aortic strip preparations, angiotensin II (AII) concentration-contractile response curves (0.3-100 nM) were highly reproducible. However, tachyphylaxis to the contractile response elicited by AII could be induced by repeated exposure to a supramaximal concentration (10 microM) of the peptide. In contrast, a correspondingly supramaximal concentration of the alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist, phenylephrine (1 mM), did not cause the tissue to become tachyphylactic to phenylephrine. Furthermore, phenylephrine responses were unaffected in tissues previously made tachyphylactic to AII. When the non-peptide, competitive angiotensin AT1 receptor antagonist, losartan (300 nM), was administered before each supramaximal AII challenge, tachyphylaxis did not subsequently occur. Additionally, in tissues made tachyphylactic to AII, subsequent incubation with losartan (300 nM) reversed the AII tachyphylaxis. Thus, losartan may prevent the loss of contractility by preventing AII from interacting with its receptor in a manner which induces tachyphylaxis. However, since losartan can also completely reverse the loss of contractility, it appears capable of restoring the AT1 receptor to a state which allows subsequently administered AII to fully activate the contractile pathway.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiovascular and Respiratory Pharmacology, Glaxo Group Research, Ware, Herts., UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Robertson
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Wragg
authors.forename: K L
authors.initials: KL
authors.lastname: Clark
mesh_terms: D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D004347:Drug Interactions; D007093:Imidazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D019808:Losartan; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects*; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D011817:Rabbits; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013618:Tachyphylaxis; D013777:Tetrazoles / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D057911:Angiotensin Receptor Antagonists; D001713:Biphenyl Compounds; D007093:Imidazoles; D013777:Tetrazoles; D000804:Angiotensin II; D010656:Phenylephrine; D019808:Losartan