title: Endothelin mediated contraction of equine laminar veins.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Endothelin-1 (ET-1) may be a key mediator in the pathogenesis of laminitis, but endothelin-mediated responses in the venous microcirculation of the equine foot have yet to be fully characterised.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To characterise the response of equine laminar veins to ET-1 and evaluate the ET-1 receptor subtypes that mediate this response.
  
  
  METHODS
  Small veins (150-500 microns) draining the equine digital laminae from healthy horses and ponies subjected to euthanasia at an abattoir were investigated using wire myography. Concentration response curves were constructed for ET-1 in the presence of ETA (BQ123) and ETB (BQ788) receptor antagonists, and L-NAME, a nitric oxide synthase blocker. The selective ETB receptor agonist BQ3020 was investigated alone and following incubation with L-NAME, with or without BQ788.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Endothelin-1 contraction of laminar veins was significantly inhibited by BQ123 but not by BQ788. In the presence of L-NAME, sensitivity of laminar veins to ET-1 was enhanced 4-fold, and further addition of BQ788 did not alter this increased sensitivity. BQ3020 induced no venoconstriction; however, in the presence of L-NAME, it caused contraction of veins with approximately 30% of the efficacy of ET-1. The action of BQ3020 in the presence of L-NAME was abolished by BQ788.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Both ETA and ETB receptors are involved in the net tonic response to ET-1 in normal laminar veins. A population of ETB receptors may be present on the vascular endothelium and on smooth muscle of laminar veins, and the action of ET-1 at these 2 sites is likely to be approximately equal and opposite.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Our results clarify the function of the ET-1 receptor subtypes in laminar veins from healthy horses. Further study of ET-1 receptors in laminitic horses is therefore warranted.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological and Biochemical Science, Glasgow Caledonian University, Cowcaddens Road, Glasgow G4 0BA, UK.
authors.forename: J A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Keen
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hillier
authors.forename: B C
authors.initials: BC
authors.lastname: McGorum
authors.forename: J E
authors.initials: JE
authors.lastname: Nally
mesh_terms: D000818:Animals; D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D065131:Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism* / Q000494:pharmacology; D004730:Endothelium, Vascular / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D005534:Foot Diseases / Q000378:metabolism / Q000662:veterinary; D006724:Hoof and Claw / Q000098:blood supply*; D006734:Horse Diseases / Q000378:metabolism; D006736:Horses; D007794:Lameness, Animal / Q000378:metabolism; D009119:Muscle Contraction / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology*; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester; D009842:Oligopeptides / Q000494:pharmacology; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D010880:Piperidines / Q000494:pharmacology; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A / Q000502:physiology*; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B / Q000502:physiology*; D014680:Veins / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology
chemical_list: D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D065131:Endothelin B Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D009842:Oligopeptides; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D010880:Piperidines; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D044023:Receptor, Endothelin B; C086539:BQ 788; C072247:cyclo(Trp-Asp-Pro-Val-Leu); D019331:NG-Nitroarginine Methyl Ester