title: Vasomotor control in mice overexpressing human endothelial nitric oxide synthase.
abstract: Nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in regulating vascular tone. Mice overexpressing endothelial NO synthase [eNOS-transgenic (Tg)] have a 20% lower systemic vascular resistance (SVR) than wild-type (WT) mice. However, because eNOS enzyme activity is 10 times higher in tissue homogenates from eNOS-Tg mice, this in vivo effect is relatively small. We hypothesized that the effect of eNOS overexpression is attenuated by alterations in NO signaling and/or altered contribution of other vasoregulatory pathways. In isoflurane-anesthetized open-chest mice, eNOS inhibition produced a significantly greater increase in SVR in eNOS-Tg mice compared with WT mice, consistent with increased NO synthesis. Vasodilation to sodium nitroprusside (SNP) was reduced, whereas the vasodilator responses to phosphodiesterase-5 blockade and 8-bromo-cGMP (8-Br-cGMP) were maintained in eNOS-Tg compared with WT mice, indicating blunted responsiveness of guanylyl cyclase to NO, which was supported by reduced guanylyl cyclase activity. There was no evidence of eNOS uncoupling, because scavenging of reactive oxygen species (ROS) produced even less vasodilation in eNOS-Tg mice, whereas after eNOS inhibition the vasodilator response to ROS scavenging was similar in WT and eNOS-Tg mice. Interestingly, inhibition of other modulators of vascular tone [including cyclooxygenase, cytochrome P-450 2C9, endothelin, adenosine, and Ca-activated K(+) channels] did not significantly affect SVR in either eNOS-Tg or WT mice, whereas the marked vasoconstrictor responses to ATP-sensitive K(+) and voltage-dependent K(+) channel blockade were similar in WT and eNOS-Tg mice. In conclusion, the vasodilator effects of eNOS overexpression are attenuated by a blunted NO responsiveness, likely at the level of guanylyl cyclase, without evidence of eNOS uncoupling or adaptations in other vasoregulatory pathways.
authors.affiliation: Experimental Cardiology, Thoraxcenter, Erasmus MC, University Medical Center Rotterdam, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Elza D
authors.initials: ED
authors.lastname: van Deel
authors.forename: Daphne
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Merkus
authors.forename: Rien
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: van Haperen
authors.forename: Monique C
authors.initials: MC
authors.lastname: de Waard
authors.forename: Rini
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: de Crom
authors.forename: Dirk J
authors.initials: DJ
authors.lastname: Duncker
mesh_terms: D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000378:metabolism; D000111:Acetylcysteine / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D000975:Antioxidants / Q000494:pharmacology; D001011:Aorta / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism; D001783:Blood Flow Velocity; D001794:Blood Pressure; D006152:Cyclic GMP / Q000031:analogs & derivatives / Q000494:pharmacology; D017869:Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases / Q000378:metabolism; D003497:Cyclic N-Oxides / Q000494:pharmacology; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase / Q000378:metabolism; D006801:Humans; D051379:Mice; D008810:Mice, Inbred C57BL; D008822:Mice, Transgenic; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / Q000037:antagonists & inhibitors / Q000235:genetics / Q000378:metabolism*; D009599:Nitroprusside / Q000494:pharmacology; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors / Q000494:pharmacology; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species / Q000378:metabolism; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear / Q000378:metabolism; D015398:Signal Transduction / Q000187:drug effects; D000071756:Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase; D013113:Spin Labels; D015854:Up-Regulation; D014655:Vascular Resistance / Q000187:drug effects; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000187:drug effects; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D014666:Vasomotor System / Q000187:drug effects / Q000201:enzymology / Q000378:metabolism*
chemical_list: D000975:Antioxidants; D003497:Cyclic N-Oxides; D004791:Enzyme Inhibitors; D010726:Phosphodiesterase Inhibitors; D017382:Reactive Oxygen Species; D018160:Receptors, Cytoplasmic and Nuclear; D013113:Spin Labels; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009599:Nitroprusside; C016276:8-bromocyclic GMP; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C496314:NOS3 protein, human; D052250:Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III; D017869:Cyclic GMP-Dependent Protein Kinases; D015106:3',5'-Cyclic-GMP Phosphodiesterases; D054706:Cyclic Nucleotide Phosphodiesterases, Type 5; C517381:PDE5A protein, human; C517382:Pde5a protein, mouse; D006162:Guanylate Cyclase; D000071756:Soluble Guanylyl Cyclase; D006152:Cyclic GMP; C001803:tempol; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D000111:Acetylcysteine