title: Fenofibrate improves age-related endothelial dysfunction in rat resistance arteries.
abstract: This study was designed to test the hypothesis that fenofibrate, the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPARalpha) activator, improves age-related endothelial dysfunction in small mesenteric arteries (SMA). Adult and aged rats were treated with fenofibrate and then endothelium-dependent relaxations of SMA; expressions of endothelial NO synthase (eNOS), cyclo-oxygenase (COX-1 and COX-2) and superoxide dismutases (SOD) (Cu/Zn SOD, Mn SOD and EC SOD) proteins and release of TXB(2) and 6-keto-PGF(1alpha) were assessed. Fenofibrate improved endothelium-dependent vasodilatation of arteries from old rats and decreased participation of endothelial vasoconstrictor products, sensitive to COX-1 and COX-2 inhibitors and acting on Tp receptor. Fenofibrate decreased expressions of COX-1 and COX-2, and generation of TXA(2). Release of vasodilator PGI(2) and U46619-induced contraction remained unaltered. Neither NO-mediated vasodilatation nor eNOS expression was affected. The addition of the scavengers, SOD and catalase increased relaxation only in SMA from control rats. Finally, fenofibrate did not change expressions of Cu/Zn SOD and Mn SOD but it increased EC SOD towards that observed in arteries from adult rats. Fenofibrate improves endothelial function in resistance arteries from aged rats by decreasing expression of COX-1 and COX-2 together with enhancing anti-oxidant capacity of the vessel wall probably through the increased expression of EC SOD. This study provides evidence that PPARalpha may have clinical applications toward maintaining endothelial function during ageing.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pharmacology, Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Seville, C/Profesor Garcia-Gonzalez no. 2, 41012 Seville, Spain. aldesoto@us.es
authors.forename: Maria
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alvarez de Sotomayor
authors.forename: Carmen
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Mingorance
authors.forename: Ramaroson
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Andriantsitohaina
mesh_terms: D000375:Aging / Q000502:physiology; D000818:Animals; D001786:Blood Glucose / Q000378:metabolism; D002784:Cholesterol / Q000097:blood; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000503:physiopathology; D011345:Fenofibrate / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000503:physiopathology*; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors / Q000494:pharmacology; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases / Q000378:metabolism; D051381:Rats; D017208:Rats, Wistar; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D014280:Triglycerides / Q000097:blood; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D001786:Blood Glucose; D000960:Hypolipidemic Agents; D020030:Nitric Oxide Donors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D014280:Triglycerides; D009569:Nitric Oxide; D002784:Cholesterol; D011451:Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases; D011345:Fenofibrate