Basic fibroblast growth factor increases nitric oxide and endothelin production in rat aorta.
The study was undertaken to investigate the effect of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) on aortic production of nitric oxide (NO) and endothelin of aorta in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and WKY rats. Rat aortas were cut into vessel slices and incubated with 10 or 100 ng/ml bFGF for 6 hours. Nitric oxide synthase (NOS) activity in aortic slices and contents of NO(-)(2) and endothelin in the medium were determined. The results showed that NOS activity in aortic slices of SHR was 17.6% lower than that of WKY (P<0.01). NO(-)(2) and endothelin contents in the medium of SHR aortic slices were 59.7% lower and 37.4% higher than those of WKY aortic slices. Upon the exposure of low and high doses of bFGF, NOS activity in the aorta of SHR was increased by 29.7% and 59.6% (both P<0.01),respectively, while the NO(-)(2) contents in the medium were increased respectively by 28.2% (P<0.05) and 70.5% (P<0.01). Aortic endothelin production was increased by 24.1% and 44.5% (both P<0.01) respectively while the NOS activity in the aorta of WKY was increased by 24.4% and 53.7% (both P<0.01). NO(-)(2) contents in the medium were augmented by 18.8% (P<0.05)and 25.9% (P<0.01), respectively. Aortic endothelin production was increased by 84.1% and 93.1% (both P<0.01). It is concluded that bFGF may modulate the production of NO and endothelin in both SHR and WKY rats.
Jiang
Z S
ZS
Research Institute of Cardiovascular Diseases, Hengyang Medical College, Hengyang  421001.
Yang
Y Z
YZ
Zhao
W
W
Pang
Y Z
YZ
Liu
N K
NK
Tang
C S
CS
D000818:Animals; D001011:Aorta / Q000166:cytology / Q000378:metabolism*; D016232:Endothelins / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2 / Q000494:pharmacology*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000096:biosynthesis*; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000378:metabolism; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D051381:Rats; D011918:Rats, Inbred SHR; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY
D016232:Endothelins; D016222:Fibroblast Growth Factor 2; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; C496316:Nos3 protein, rat