Paradoxically enhanced endothelin-B receptor-mediated vasoconstriction in conscious old monkeys.
BACKGROUND
We investigated the effects of aging on the responses to endothelin (ET) in conscious old (19.8+/-0.6 years) and young adult (6.8+/-0.3 years) monkeys and compared these results with those of other vasoconstrictors, eg, phenylephrine (PE) and angiotensin II (Ang II).


RESULTS
The monkeys (Macaca fascicularis) were chronically instrumented. Baseline total peripheral resistance (TPR) was not different between the 2 groups. As expected, TPR rose less (P<0.05) with PE (5 microgram/kg) in old monkeys (34+/-3%) than in young monkeys (57+/-6%); TPR also rose less with Ang II. Surprisingly, TPR rose more (P<0.05) with endothelin-1 (ET-1, 25 ng. kg(-1). min(-1)) in old monkeys (36+/-6%) than in young monkeys (10+/-2%). An ET(B) receptor agonist, sarafotoxin (S6c, 30 ng. kg(-1). min(-1)) was administered in the presence of an ET(A) receptor antagonist, BQ-123 (1 mg/kg). Under these conditions, TPR increased more (P<0.05) in old monkeys (59+/-10%) than in young monkeys (31+/-4%). In the presence of nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition with N(W)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (60 mg/kg), vasoconstriction induced by S6c no longer differed with age, because it was enhanced in young monkeys (P<0.05) (68+/-9% versus 31+/-4%) but not in old monkeys (58+/-6% versus 59+/-10%). Thus, after NOS inhibition, vasoconstrictor responses to ET were no longer enhanced in old monkeys.


CONCLUSIONS
Peripheral vasoconstriction (PE and Ang II) is reduced in old monkeys, as expected. Paradoxically, vasoconstriction induced by ET-1 was actually enhanced in old monkeys, which appears to be a result of impaired endothelium-dependent vasodilation, which with ET-1 should involve the ET(B) receptor.
Asai
K
K
Cardiovascular Research Institute, University of Medicine, Dentistry of New Jersey, New Jersey Medical School, Newark, USA.
Kudej
R K
RK
Takagi
G
G
Kudej
A B
AB
Natividad
F
F
Shen
Y T
YT
Vatner
D E
DE
Vatner
S F
SF
D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000804:Angiotensin II / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D003243:Consciousness; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D008252:Macaca fascicularis; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D010656:Phenylephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014757:Viper Venoms / Q000494:pharmacology
D065128:Endothelin Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; D017466:Receptors, Endothelin; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014757:Viper Venoms; C057354:sarafotoxins s6; D000804:Angiotensin II; D010656:Phenylephrine; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; C072247:cyclo(Trp-Asp-Pro-Val-Leu); D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester