title: Abolition of endothelium-dependent relaxation in the rat aorta by tetraoctylammonium ions.
abstract: Quaternary ammonium ions are common pharmacological probes used to study the kinetic properties of K+ channels in smooth muscle cells. On the other hand, some ammonium compounds cause vasorelaxation through unknown mechanisms. The main aim of this study was to examine a unique role of endothelium in the vascular response to tetraoctylammonium ions (TOA+) in the isolated rat aorta. Changes in contractile force were measured by force transducers and total tissue content of cGMP was measured by radioimmunoassay. Endothelial cytosolic Ca2+ ([Ca2+]i) was assessed by laser scanning confocal microscopy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong, Shatin. yu-huang@cuhk.edu.hk
authors.forename: Y
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
authors.forename: X Q
authors.initials: XQ
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: F L
authors.initials: FL
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: C W
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: N W
authors.initials: NW
authors.lastname: Chan
authors.forename: Z Y
authors.initials: ZY
authors.lastname: Chen
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D000001:Calcimycin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism; D002412:Cations / Q000494:pharmacology*; D002478:Cells, Cultured; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000378:metabolism; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007211:Indoles / Q000494:pharmacology; D008297:Male; D018613:Microscopy, Confocal; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000187:drug effects; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D019335:Nitroarginine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D002412:Cations; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D007211:Indoles; D000644:Quaternary Ammonium Compounds; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019335:Nitroarginine; D000001:Calcimycin; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat; D006152:Cyclic GMP; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002118:Calcium; C000543:cyclopiazonic acid