title: Urotensin II evokes potent vasoconstriction in humans in vivo.
abstract: The peptide urotensin II (U II) evokes potent vasoconstriction in non-human primates. In human blood vessels studied in vitro variable effects of U II are reported; vasoconstriction, vasodilatation or no response. It is therefore of importance to determine the vascular effect of U II in humans in vivo. U II (0.1 - 300 pmol min(-1)) was infused into the brachial artery of nine healthy volunteers. Changes in forearm blood flow (FBF) were determined by venous occlusion plethysmography. U II induced dose-dependent reduction in FBF. A threshold response was obtained by 1 pmol min(-1), and the highest dose of U II (300 pmol min(-1)) reduced FBF by 31+/-4% (P<0.01). FBF returned to baseline values within 30 min. This study demonstrates that U II produces potent vasoconstriction in humans in vivo.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiology, Karolinska Hospital, S-171 76 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Felix
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Böhm
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Pernow
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity / Q000187:drug effects; D001916:Brachial Artery / Q000502:physiology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005542:Forearm / Q000098:blood supply*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000187:drug effects; D006801:Humans; D007261:Infusions, Intra-Arterial; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D010991:Plethysmography; D012039:Regional Blood Flow; D014579:Urotensins / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000008:administration & dosage / Q000097:blood / Q000494:pharmacology*
chemical_list: D014579:Urotensins; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; C029677:urotensin II