title: Endothelium-dependent production and liberation of kynurenic acid by rat aortic rings exposed to L-kynurenine.
abstract: Rat aortic slices produced and liberated the endogenous antagonist of glutamate receptors, kynurenic acid, upon exposure to L-kynurenine. Endothelium-denuded slices did not synthesize any measurable amount of kynurenic acid, indicating its endothelial origin. Aortic kynurenic acid production was diminished by modification of the ionic milieu, hypoxia and hypoglycemia, as well as by L-glutamate and L-aspartate, endogenous glutamate receptor agonists, and aminooxyacetic acid, a non-selective inhibitor of aminotransferases and mitochondrial respiration. These data pave the way for future research aimed to clarify the role of kynurenic acid in the physiology and pathology of the endothelium and vasculature.
authors.affiliation: Department of Cardiosurgery, Medical University, Jaczewskiego 8, 20-090 Lublin, Poland.
authors.forename: Janusz
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Stazka
authors.forename: Piotr
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Luchowski
authors.forename: Marian
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Wielosz
authors.forename: Zdzisław
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Kleinrok
authors.forename: Ewa M
authors.initials: EM
authors.lastname: Urbańska
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D001013:Aorta, Thoracic / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism*; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D007736:Kynurenic Acid / Q000378:metabolism*; D007737:Kynurenine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar
chemical_list: D007737:Kynurenine; D007736:Kynurenic Acid