title: Vascular effects and mechanism of action of endothelin-1 in isolated perfused pig skin.
abstract: We investigated the vascular effects and mechanism of action of endothelin-1 (ET-1) in the skin by intra-arterial infusion of ET-1 and its precursor Big ET-1 via a direct cutaneous artery in isolated perfused pig skin flaps (6 x 16 cm). The vascular contractivity was studied by monitoring the perfusion pressure in the skin flap. There was evidence to indicate local conversion of Big ET-1 to ET-1 in the pig skin. It was also observed that ET-1 was a potent long-lasting vasoconstrictor with a potency of approximately 10- and 300-fold higher than those of Big ET-1 and norepinephrine, respectively. The vasoconstrictor action of ET-1 was blocked (P < 0.01) by a selective ETA-receptor antagonist (BQ-123 or BQ-610; 10(-7) M) and enhanced (P < 0.05) by a nitric oxide synthase inhibitor (NG-monomethyl-L-arginine or N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester; 10(-5) M). ET-1-induced increase in perfusion pressure was attenuated (P < 0.05) by an L-type Ca(2+)-channel antagonist (nitrendipine, verapamil, or nifedipine; 10(-5) M) and by removal of Ca2+ from the perfusate. ET-1-induced increase in perfusion pressure was also attenuated (P < 0.05) by a phospholipase C inhibitor (neomycin; 10(-2) M), a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor (chelerythrine or H-7; 10(-5) M), and an intracellular Ca2+ chelator [1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)]ethane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (BAPTA); 10(-5) M]. Furthermore, it was observed that the concentration-dependent (5 x 10(-8) to 10(-5) M) increase in perfusion pressure induced by phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate, a PKC activator, was not affected by verapamil (10(-5) M) or removal of Ca2+ from the perfusate. Taken together, these observations suggest that the vasoconstrictor mechanism of ET-1 in the pig skin involved activation of ETA receptors, L-type Ca2+ channels, phospholipase C, and PKC and that the vasoconstrictor effect caused by activation of PKC was independent of L-type Ca2+ channels.
authors.affiliation: Research Institute, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada.
authors.forename: C Y
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Pang
authors.forename: R Z
authors.initials: RZ
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.forename: P
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Neligan
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Xu
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Chiu
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.forename: C R
authors.initials: CR
authors.lastname: Forrest
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D016232:Endothelins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006020:Glycopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010477:Perfusion; D011480:Protease Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D012867:Skin / Q000187:drug effects*; D013552:Swine; D013997:Time Factors; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D016232:Endothelins; D006020:Glycopeptides; D011480:Protease Inhibitors; C008890:phosphoramidon