title: Raloxifene relaxes rat intrarenal arteries by inhibiting Ca2+ influx.
abstract: Raloxifene may confer vascular benefits without causing estrogen-related side effects. However, its action on renal vascular circulation is unknown. This study aimed to examine the sex difference and roles of the endothelium and Ca(2+) channels in rat renovascular relaxation to raloxifene. On isolated intralobar renal artery rings mounted in a myograph and contracted by U-46619, concentration-relaxation curves were constructed for raloxifene and contractions to CaCl(2) were studied. Changes in intracellular Ca(2+) concentration levels ([Ca(2+)](i)) of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) were measured by fura 2 fluorescence. Raloxifene or 17beta-estradiol was equally effective in relaxing renal arteries from both sexes, with raloxifene being more potent than 17beta-estradiol. Endothelial denudation did not affect raloxifene- or 17beta-estradiol-induced relaxation. N(G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, charybdotoxin plus apamin, indomethacin, or ICI-182, 780 did not modify the effect of raloxifene. Raloxifene caused similar relaxations in rings contracted by U-46619 and high K(+). Nifedipine attenuated the potency of raloxifene. Raloxifene reduced CaCl(2)-induced contractions. K(+) (80 mM) stimulated an increase in VSM [Ca(2+)](i), and raloxifene attenuated this effect. Raloxifene-induced reduction of contraction and increase in VSM [Ca(2+)](i) were insensitive to ICI-182, 780. In summary, raloxifene causes relaxation in rat renal arteries; this effect is independent of a functional endothelium and is not mediated by ICI 182, 780-sensitive estrogen receptors. Raloxifene inhibited both contractions and VSM [Ca(2+)](i) in response to CaCl(2), indicating that raloxifene relaxes rat renal arteries primarily through inhibiting Ca(2+) influx via Ca(2+) channels. There is little sex difference in raloxifene-induced relaxation.
authors.affiliation: Dept. of Physiology, Chinese University of Hong Kong, China.
authors.forename: Fung Ping
authors.initials: FP
authors.lastname: Leung
authors.forename: Xiaoqiang
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Yao
authors.forename: Chi-Wai
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Lau
authors.forename: Wing-Hung
authors.initials: WH
authors.lastname: Ko
authors.forename: Limin
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.forename: Yu
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Huang
mesh_terms: D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D004958:Estradiol / Q000494:pharmacology; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D009543:Nifedipine / Q000494:pharmacology; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride / Q000494:pharmacology*; D051381:Rats; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D012077:Renal Artery / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators / Q000494:pharmacology*; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D020845:Selective Estrogen Receptor Modulators; D014662:Vasoconstrictor Agents; D020849:Raloxifene Hydrochloride; D004958:Estradiol; D019796:15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; D009543:Nifedipine; D002118:Calcium