Interactions between vasoconstrictors in isolated human cerebral arteries.
This study investigates whether different endogeneous vasoconstrictors exert synergistic effects in isolated human cerebral arteries, because potentiation of contractile effects may play a role in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm. Isolated human pial arteries obtained from macroscopically intact tissue during brain tumour operations were mounted onto a wire myograph. Concentration-response curves of 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) were constructed in the absence and presence of threshold concentrations of the thromboxane A2 (TXA)-analog U46619, and endothelin-1 (ET-1). Threshold concentrations of U46619 markedly enhanced the maximum contractile effect of 5-HT. The response to 5-HT remained markedly increased even after washout of U46619. Threshold concentrations of ET-1 increased the maximum response to 5-HT, and markedly shifted the dose-response curve to the left. Even after washout of ET-1, the dose-response curve of 5-HT remained shifted to the left. The increase of the contractile effect of 5-HT in the presence of U46619 did not correlate with the relaxant action of the endothelium-dependent vasodilator carbachol. Thus, synergism between contractile substances such as 5-HT, U46619, or ET-1 is seen in human cerebral arteries, and responses to 5-HT are potentiated even after washout of ET-1 and U46619. The potentiation does not depend on the endothelial function. We conclude that synergistic responses between endogeneous vasoconstrictors such as 5-HT, TXA and ET-1 may be involved in the pathogenesis of cerebral vasospasm after subarachnoid haemorrhage.
Hempelmann
R G
RG
Department of Neurosurgery, University of Kiel, Federal Republic of Germany.
Pradel
R H
RH
Barth
H L
HL
Mehdorn
H M
HM
Ziegler
A
A
D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D002536:Cerebral Arteries / Q000187:drug effects*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006801:Humans; D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic / Q000494:pharmacology*; D012701:Serotonin / Q000494:pharmacology*; D013928:Thromboxane A2 / Q000031:analogs & derivatives* / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
D019332:Endothelin-1; D011450:Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D012701:Serotonin; D013928:Thromboxane A2; D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid