title: Modulation of vasodilatation to levcromakalim by hypoxia and EDRF in the rabbit isolated ear: a comparison with pinacidil, sodium nitroprusside and verapamil.
abstract: 1. We have used an isolated buffer-perfused preparation of the rabbit ear to investigate the effects of hypoxia and inhibition of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) synthesis on the vasodilator responses to the potassium channel opener, levcromakalim (the active (-)-enantiomer of cromakalim). The results obtained with levcromakalim have been compared with those for pinacidil, sodium nitroprusside and verapamil. 2. Levcromakalim relaxed preconstricted preparations with an EC50 = 343 +/- 41 nM and Rmax = 80.3 +/- 6.4%. Under hypoxic conditions the concentration-response curve was significantly (P < 0.01) shifted to the left with an EC50 = 118 +/- 16 nM and Rmax = 89.9 +/- 2.7%. Hypoxia did not influence relaxation to either pinacidil, sodium nitroprusside or verapamil. 3. Inhibition of EDRF synthesis with 100 microM NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) also significantly (P < 0.001) increased the vasodilator potency of levcromakalim (EC50 = 56 +/- 5 nM), and caused a similar shift in the concentration-response curve to sodium nitroprusside. It did not influence vasodilation to either verapamil or pinacidil. The potentiation of vasodilator responses to levcromakalim by L-NAME was reversed by an excess of L-arginine. 4. Impairment of oxidative phosphorylation with 400 nM carbonyl cyanide m-chlorophenylhydrazone significantly (P < 0.05) increased the potency of levcromakalim (EC50 = 120 +/- 20 nM) but did not influence vasodilation to pinacidil or endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine. 5. Vasodilatation to levcromakalim was augmented both by hypoxia and by inhibition of EDRF activity. Since impairment of oxidative phosphorylation increased the potency of levcromakalim but did not alter EDRF activity then the mechanism responsible for hypoxic facilitation of responses to levcromakalim is likely to be due to reduced ATP levels in hypoxic smooth muscle cells rather than a change in EDRF activity. These results suggest that levcromakalim may selectively dilate both hypoxic vessels and vessels with impaired EDRF activity. The results also point to important differences in the pharmacology of levcromakalim and pinacidil.
authors.affiliation: Department of Diagnostic Radiology, University of Wales College of Medicine, Health Park, Cardiff.
authors.forename: M D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Randall
authors.forename: T M
authors.initials: TM
authors.lastname: Griffith
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001120:Arginine / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D001578:Benzopyrans / Q000494:pharmacology*; D019806:Cromakalim; D004431:Ear, External / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects; D006146:Guanidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D000860:Hypoxia / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000494:pharmacology*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010085:Oxidative Phosphorylation / Q000187:drug effects; D020110:Pinacidil; D010879:Piperazines / Q000494:pharmacology; D011758:Pyrroles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D012039:Regional Blood Flow / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014700:Verapamil / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D001578:Benzopyrans; D006146:Guanidines; D010879:Piperazines; D011758:Pyrroles; D016194:Receptors, N-Methyl-D-Aspartate; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019806:Cromakalim; D009599:Nitroprusside; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D020110:Pinacidil; D001120:Arginine; C050592:3-(2-carboxypiperazin-4-yl)propyl-1-phosphonic acid; D014700:Verapamil; D000109:Acetylcholine; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester