title: Ca2+ and contractile responses of resistance vessels of WKY rats and SHR to endothelin-1.
abstract: Endothelin-1 (ET-1) influences vascular function by modulating intracellular free Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in smooth muscle. This study investigated the effects of ET-1 on [Ca2+]i and contractile responses in resistance vessels of young prehypertensive (5 week) and adult hypertensive (17 week) spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and in age-matched normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats. Third-order branches of mesenteric arteries were mounted in a perfusion myograph and maintained at 60 mm Hg. Vessel [Ca2+]i was measured by Fura-2 and contraction was determined using video imaging to record lumen diameter. [Ca2+]i was higher (p < 0.01) in 5- and 17-week SHRs compared with 5- and 17-week WKYs rats. ET-1 increased [Ca2+]i and contractile responses in a dose-dependent manner in all groups. ET-induced [Ca2+]i change and vessel contractility were not significantly different between age-matched SHR and WKY groups, but [Ca2+]i responses were more sensitive in 5- compared with 17-week SHRs. These data demonstrate that ET-1-stimulated [Ca2+]i and contractile responses in resistance arteries are similar in age-matched WKY rats and SHRs and are blunted in adult SHRs compared with young prehypertensive rats. Therefore, ET-1 may not play a major role in the development of hypertension in SHRs.
authors.affiliation: MRC Multidisciplinary Research Group on Hypertension, Clinical Research Institute of Montreal, University of Montreal, Québec, Canada.
authors.forename: R M
authors.initials: RM
authors.lastname: Touyz
authors.forename: L Y
authors.initials: LY
authors.lastname: Deng
authors.forename: E L
authors.initials: EL
authors.lastname: Schiffrin
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D016232:Endothelins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006973:Hypertension / Q000503:physiopathology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D002118:Calcium