title: CB(1) receptor antagonist SR141716A inhibits Ca(2+)-induced relaxation in CB(1) receptor-deficient mice.
abstract: Mesenteric branch arteries isolated from cannabinoid type 1 receptor knockout (CB(1)(-/-)) mice, their wild-type littermates (CB(1)(+/+) mice), and C57BL/J wild-type mice were studied to test the hypothesis that murine arteries undergo high sensitivity Ca(2+)-induced relaxation that is CB(1) receptor dependent. Confocal microscope analysis of mesenteric branch arteries from wild-type mice showed the presence of Ca(2+) receptor-positive periadventitial nerves. Arterial segments of C57 control mice mounted on wire myographs contracted in response to 5 micromol/L norepinephrine and responded to the cumulative addition of extracellular Ca(2+) with a concentration-dependent relaxation that reached a maximum of 72.0 +/- 6.3% of the prerelaxation tone and had an EC(50) for Ca(2+) of 2.90 +/- 0.54 mmol/L. The relaxation was antagonized by precontraction in buffer containing 100 mmol/L K(+) and by pretreatment with 10 mmol/L tetraethylammonium. Arteries from CB(1)(-/-) and CB(1)(+/+) mice also relaxed in response to extracellular Ca(2+) with no differences being detected between the knockout and their littermate controls. SR141716A, a selective CB(1) antagonist, caused concentration-dependent inhibition of Ca(2+)-induced relaxation in both the knockout and wild-type strains (60% inhibition at 1 micromol/L). O-1918, a cannabidiol analog, had a similar blocking effect in arteries of both wild-type and CB(1)(-/-) mice at 10 micromol/L. In contrast, 1 micromol/L SR144538, a cannabinoid type 2 receptor antagonist, or 50 micromol/L 18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid, a gap junction blocker, were without effect. SR141716A (1 to 30 micromol/L) was also assessed for nonspecific actions on whole-cell K(+) currents in isolated vascular smooth muscle cells. SR141716A inhibited macroscopic K(+) currents at concentrations higher than those required to inhibit Ca(2+)-induced relaxation, and appeared to have little effect on currents through large conductance Ca(2+)-activated K(+) channels. These data indicate that arteries of the mouse relax in response to cumulative addition of extracellular Ca(2+) in a hyperpolarization-dependent manner and rule out a role for CB(1) or CB(2) receptors in this effect. The possible role of a nonclassical cannabinoid receptor is discussed.
authors.affiliation: Cardiovascular Disease Research Program, Julius L. Chambers Biomedical Biotechnology Research Institute, North Carolina Central University, Durham 27707, USA. rbukoski@wpo.nccu.edu
authors.forename: Richard D
authors.initials: RD
authors.lastname: Bukoski
authors.forename: Sándor
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Bátkai
authors.forename: Zoltán
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Járai
authors.forename: Yanlin
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Offertaler
authors.forename: William F
authors.initials: WF
authors.lastname: Jackson
authors.forename: George
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Kunos
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000494:pharmacology*; D006224:Cricetinae; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D008297:Male; D008564:Membrane Potentials / Q000187:drug effects; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D008647:Mesocricetus; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D018345:Mice, Knockout; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000166:cytology / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009638:Norepinephrine / Q000494:pharmacology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology*; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology; D011720:Pyrazoles / Q000494:pharmacology*; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000235:genetics; D000077285:Rimonabant; D019789:Tetraethylammonium / Q000494:pharmacology; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
chemical_list: D010880:Piperidines; D015221:Potassium Channels; D011720:Pyrazoles; D043882:Receptors, Cannabinoid; D011955:Receptors, Drug; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D019789:Tetraethylammonium; D000109:Acetylcholine; D000077285:Rimonabant; D002118:Calcium; D009638:Norepinephrine