title: Dilator effect of endothelins in pulmonary circulation: changes associated with chronic hypoxia.
abstract: To investigate dilator effects of endothelins (ETs) on the pulmonary circulation and possible changes induced by chronic hypoxia, we examined vascular responses to ET-1 and ET-3 as well as ET binding to receptor subtypes ETA and ETB in the lungs from rats exposed to either room air (controls), hypoxia (10% O2) for 3 wk (3 WH), or 3 WH followed by recovery to room air (3 WH+R). In controls, both ETA and ETB receptor binding was present in smooth muscle of airways and vessels. Infusion of ET-1 or ET-3 (3-100 pM) to isolated perfused lungs preconstricted by U-46619 produced dose-dependent vasodilation with a greater potency of ET-3 (P < 0.01). The vasodilator responses to ET-1 and ET-3 were potentiated by the cyclooxygenase blocker meclofenamate (3 x 10(-6) M) or by the thromboxane synthetase inhibitor R-68070. In meclofenamate-treated lungs, the vasodilator responses to ET-1 and ET-3 remained unaffected by the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (5 x 10(-4) M) or by the guanylate cyclase inhibitor, methylene blue (10(-4) M). Conversely, the K+ channel blockers glibenclamide (10(-4) M) and tetraethylammonium (10(-4) M) attenuated the vasodilator responses to both ET-1 and ET-3. The selective ETA receptor antagonist BQ-123 did not alter ET-induced vasodilation, whereas it attenuated ET-induced vasoconstriction. Vasodilation to both ET-1 and ET-3 was abolished in lungs from 3 WH rats (P < 0.01) but was fully restored in lungs from 3 WH+R rats. Pulmonary vasodilation induced by the K+ channel opener pinacidil, which was suppressed by glibenclamide, did not differ between controls and 3 WH rat lungs. We found no change in ETA and ETB receptor binding from pulmonary vessels in H rat lungs compared with controls. In conclusion, endothelin-induced pulmonary vasodilation which may involve activation of K+ channels is abolished during chronic hypoxia. This abolition does not appear to be related to alterations in ET-receptor subtypes or to unresponsiveness of K+ channels in the pulmonary circulation.
authors.affiliation: Département de physiologie, Centre Hospitalier Universitaire Henri Mondor, Créteil, France.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Eddahibi
authors.forename: D
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Springall
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mannan
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carville
authors.forename: P E
authors.initials: PE
authors.lastname: Chabrier
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Levame
authors.forename: B
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Raffestin
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Polak
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Adnot
mesh_terms: D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001345:Autoradiography; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016232:Endothelins / Q000378:metabolism / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005905:Glyburide / Q000494:pharmacology; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D008168:Lung / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D008469:Meclofenamic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D019335:Nitroarginine; D010421:Pentanoic Acids / Q000494:pharmacology; D020110:Pinacidil; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology; D011652:Pulmonary Circulation / Q000187:drug effects*; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin / Q000032:analysis / Q000378:metabolism; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D013930:Thromboxane-A Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D006146:Guanidines; D007457:Iodine Radioisotopes; D010421:Pentanoic Acids; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; D011725:Pyridines; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin; D013757:Tetraethylammonium Compounds; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019335:Nitroarginine; D008469:Meclofenamic Acid; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D020110:Pinacidil; D001120:Arginine; D013930:Thromboxane-A Synthase; C060219:ridogrel; D005905:Glyburide