title: The mechanism of EDHF-mediated responses in subcutaneous small arteries from healthy pregnant women.
abstract: We studied the importance of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) vs. nitric oxide (NO) and prostacyclin (PGI(2)) in bradykinin (BK)-induced relaxation in isolated small subcutaneous arteries from normal pregnant women. We also explored the contribution of cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) product of arachidonic acid (AA) metabolism, hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)), and gap junctions that have been suggested to be involved in EDHF-mediated responses. Isolated arteries obtained from subcutaneous fat biopsies of normal pregnant women (n = 30) undergoing planned cesarean section were mounted in a wire-myography system. In norepinephrine-constricted vessels, incubation with N(G)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) resulted in a significant reduction in relaxation to BK. Simultaneous incubation with L-NAME and indomethacin failed to modify this response further. BK-mediated dilatation in the presence of K(+)-modified solution was decreased to similar level as obtained after incubation with L-NAME. Incubation with L-NAME abolished BK-induced responses in K(+)-modified solution. Sulfaphenazole, a specific inhibitor of CYP450 epoxygenase, and catalase (an enzyme that decomposes H(2)O(2)) did not affect the EDHF-mediated relaxation because concentration-response curves to BK were similar in arteries after incubation with L-NAME vs. L-NAME + sulfaphenazole and L-NAME + catalase. The inhibitor of gap junctions, 18 alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid, significantly reduced BK-mediated relaxation both without and with incubation with L-NAME. We found that both NO and EDHF, but not PGI(2), are involved in the endothelium-dependent dilatation to BK. BK-induced relaxation is almost equally mediated by NO and EDHF. CYP450 epoxygenase metabolites of AA or H(2)O(2) do not account for EDHF-mediated response; however, gap junctions are involved in the EDHF-mediated responses to BK in subcutaneous small arteries in normal pregnancy.
authors.affiliation: Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology, Karolinska Institutet, Huddinge University Hospital, 14186 Stockholm, Sweden.
authors.forename: Leonid
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Luksha
authors.forename: Henry
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Nisell
authors.forename: Karolina
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Kublickiene
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001158:Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D001685:Biological Factors / Q000502:physiology*; D001920:Bradykinin / Q000494:pharmacology; D002585:Cesarean Section; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011464:Epoprostenol / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D017629:Gap Junctions / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide / Q000494:pharmacology; D007213:Indomethacin / Q000494:pharmacology; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D011247:Pregnancy / Q000502:physiology*; D012867:Skin / Q000098:blood supply* / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001685:Biological Factors; D016861:Cyclooxygenase Inhibitors; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; C067410:endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization factor; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D006861:Hydrogen Peroxide; D011464:Epoprostenol; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D019001:Nitric Oxide Synthase; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D001920:Bradykinin; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D007213:Indomethacin