title: Apelin effects in human splanchnic arteries. Role of nitric oxide and prostanoids.
abstract: Apelin effects were examined in human splanchnic arteries from liver donors (normal arteries) and from liver recipients. Segments 3 mm long were obtained from mesenteric arteries taken from liver donors (normal arteries), and from hepatic arteries taken from cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation (liver recipients), and the segments were mounted in organ baths for isometric tension recording. In arteries under resting conditions, apelin (10(-10)-10(-6) M) caused no effect in any of the arteries tested. In arteries precontracted with the thromboxane A(2) analogue U46619 (10(-7)-10(-6) M), apelin (10(-10)-10(-6) M) produced concentration-dependent relaxation that was lower in hepatic than in mesenteric arteries, whereas sodium nitroprusside (10(-8)-10(-4) M) produced a similar relaxation in both types of arteries. The inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis N(w)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10(-4) M) diminished the relaxation to apelin in mesenteric but not in hepatic arteries. The inhibitor of cyclooxygenase meclofenamate (10(-5) M) did not affect the relaxation provoked by apelin in both types of arteries. Therefore, apelin may produce relaxation in normal human splanchnic arteries, and this relaxation may be mediated in part by nitric oxide without involvement of prostanoids. This relaxation as well as the role of nitric oxide may be decreased in splanchnic arteries from cirrhotic patients.
authors.affiliation: Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Autónoma, Madrid, Spain.
authors.forename: Adely
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Salcedo
authors.forename: Jesús
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Garijo
authors.forename: Luis
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Monge
authors.forename: Nuria
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Fernández
authors.forename: Angel
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Luis García-Villalón
authors.forename: Víctor
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Sánchez Turrión
authors.forename: Valentín
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: Cuervas-Mons
authors.forename: Godofredo
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Diéguez
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000073861:Apelin; D004305:Dose-Response Relationship, Drug; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins / Q000494:pharmacology*; D008297:Male; D008638:Mesenteric Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000378:metabolism*; D011453:Prostaglandins / Q000378:metabolism*; D013152:Splanchnic Circulation / Q000187:drug effects
chemical_list: C115436:APLN protein, human; D000073861:Apelin; D036341:Intercellular Signaling Peptides and Proteins; D011453:Prostaglandins; D009569:Nitric Oxide