title: Rho kinase inhibition partly weakens myogenic reactivity in rat small arteries by changing calcium sensitivity.
abstract: The hypothesis that Rho kinase is involved in myogenic reactivity was investigated in pressurized rat tail small arteries using videomicroscopic diameter determination and calcium fluorimetry. The potent Rho kinase inhibitor Y-27632 reversibly increased vessel diameter at 80 mmHg without changing the intracellular calcium concentration ([Ca](i)) shifting the relationship between diameter change and [Ca](i) to higher calcium levels. Neither endothelium removal nor inhibition of neural transmission affected the Y-27632-induced effect. Y-27632 at 3 x 10(-6) mol/l attenuated the myogenic response in the pressure range from 10 to 120 mmHg, shifting the relationship between vessel tone and [Ca](i) to higher calcium levels. In addition, the Y-27632-induced shift of the relationship between vessel tone and [Ca](i) was larger at 80 than at 10 mmHg. These results suggest that smooth muscle cell Rho kinase in rat tail small arteries 1) is in an active state partly determining the level of the myogenic tone, and 2) alters the strength of the myogenic response by changing calcium sensitivity, probably caused by the pressure-induced activation of the kinase.
authors.affiliation: University of Rostock, Institute of Physiology, Germany. rudolf.schubert@medizin.uni-rostock.de
authors.forename: Rudolf
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Schubert
authors.forename: Vjatscheslav U
authors.initials: VU
authors.lastname: Kalentchuk
authors.forename: Ulrike
authors.initials: U
authors.lastname: Krien
mesh_terms: D000577:Amides / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001794:Blood Pressure / Q000502:physiology; D002118:Calcium / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D008297:Male; D018715:Microscopy, Video; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D009129:Muscle Tonus / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000378:metabolism; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors* / Q000378:metabolism; D011725:Pyridines / Q000494:pharmacology; D051381:Rats; D011921:Rats, Inbred WKY; D013623:Tail / Q000098:blood supply; D014654:Vascular Patency / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases
chemical_list: D000577:Amides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D047908:Intracellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D047428:Protein Kinase Inhibitors; D011725:Pyridines; C108830:Y 27632; D017346:Protein Serine-Threonine Kinases; D054460:rho-Associated Kinases; D020928:Mitogen-Activated Protein Kinases; D002118:Calcium