title: Effect of propofol on norepinephrine-induced increases in [Ca2+]i and force in smooth muscle of the rabbit mesenteric resistance artery.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Propofol (2,6-diisopropylphenol) possesses vasodilating activity in vivo and in vitro. The propofol-induced relaxation of agonist-induced contractions in small resistance arteries has not been clarified.
  
  
  METHODS
  The effect of propofol was examined on the contractions induced by norepinephrine and high K+ in endothelium-denuded rabbit mesenteric resistance artery in vitro. The effects of propofol on the [Ca2+]i mobilization induced by norepinephrine and high K+ were studied by simultaneous measurement of [Ca2+]i using Fura 2 and isometric force in ryanodine-treated strips.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Propofol attenuated the contractions induced by high K+ and norepinephrine, the effect being greater on the high K+-induced contraction than on the norepinephrine-induced contraction. In Ca2+-free solution, norepinephrine produced a transient contraction resulting from the release of Ca2+ from storage sites that propofol attenuated. In ryanodine-treated strips, propofol increased the resting [Ca2+]i but attenuated the increases in [Ca2+]i and force induced by both high K+ and norepinephrine. In the presence of nicardipine, propofol had no inhibitory action on the residual norepinephrine-induced [Ca2+]i increase, whereas it still modestly increased resting [Ca2+]i, as in the absence of nicardipine.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  In smooth muscle of the rabbit mesenteric resistance artery, propofol attenuates norepinephrine-induced contractions due to an inhibition both of Ca2+ release and of Ca2+ influx through L-type Ca2+ channels. Propofol also increased resting [Ca2+]i, possibly as a result of an inhibition of [Ca2+]i removal mechanisms. These results may explain in part the variety of actions seen with propofol in various types of vascular smooth muscle.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Nagoya City University Medical School, Nagoya, Japan.
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Imura
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Shiraishi
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Katsuya
authors.forename: T
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Itoh
mesh_terms: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002110:Caffeine / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011188:Potassium / Q000494:pharmacology; D015742:Propofol / Q000494:pharmacology*; D011817:Rabbits; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: D018686:Anesthetics, Intravenous; D002110:Caffeine; D011188:Potassium; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine; D015742:Propofol