title: Protein kinase C mediates angiotensin II-induced contractions and the release of endothelin and prostacyclin in rat aortic rings.
abstract: Angiotensin II (Ang II) stimulation of vascular smooth muscle results in a myriad of intracellular signals that interact to produce the final physiologic response of the cell. We used rat aortic rings to investigate the role of protein kinase C (PKC) in Ang II-induced contractions and in the concomitant release of endothelin (ET) and prostacyclin (PGI2). Ang II (10(-9) M) produced a rapid contraction which was sustained for 10 min. When aortic rings were pretreated with graded concentrations of each of the four different inhibitors of PKC, that is, (i) 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonylmethyl) piperazine (H7); (ii) 1-(5-isoquinolinesulfonyl) piperazine(CL); (iii) staurosporine; or (iv) calphostin C, inhibition of Ang II-induced contractions began at 10(-9) M, and was nearly complete at 10(-6) M. Ang II-induced contractions were associated with a 10-fold increase in the release of both ET and PGI2. Pretreatment with 10(-6) M of any one of the same four PKC inhibitors blocked Ang II-induced release of both ET and PGI2. Pretreatment with a blocker of the endothelin-A receptor, BQ123 (10(-6) M), inhibited, by approximately 50%, Ang II-induced contractions, and the release of both ET and PGI2. In aortic rings denuded of endothelium, Ang II-induced contractions, and the release of both ET and PGI2 were significantly reduced, compared to intact rings. We conclude that PKC mediates Ang II-induced contractions in rat aortic rings and that the secondary release of both ET and PGI2 during Ang II-induced contractions is mediated, at least in part, by PKC. In addition, approximately half of Ang II-induced contractile force and of PGI2 release is dependent upon the ET released from endothelial cells.
authors.affiliation: Hypertension-Endocrine Branch, National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute, National Institutes of Health, Bethesda, MD 20892, USA.
authors.forename: G K
authors.initials: GK
authors.lastname: Oriji
authors.forename: H R
authors.initials: HR
authors.lastname: Keiser
mesh_terms: D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D016232:Endothelins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000378:metabolism*; D008297:Male; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009281:Naphthalenes / Q000494:pharmacology; D009994:Osmolar Concentration; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate / Q000494:pharmacology; D011493:Protein Kinase C / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism*; D051381:Rats; D019311:Staurosporine / Q000494:pharmacology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D016232:Endothelins; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D009281:Naphthalenes; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D000804:Angiotensin II; D015240:Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate; D019307:1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine; D011464:Epoprostenol; D011493:Protein Kinase C; D019311:Staurosporine; C058819:calphostin C; C072247:cyclo(Trp-Asp-Pro-Val-Leu)