Endothelin A (ET(A)) receptors are involved in augmented adrenergic vasoconstriction and blunted nitric oxide-mediated relaxation of penile arteries from insulin-resistant obese zucker rats.
BACKGROUND
Endothelin 1 (ET-1) levels and receptors are up-regulated in the erectile tissue of diabetic patients and animal models of erectile dysfunction (ED).


OBJECTIVE
The present study assessed the role of ET-1 receptors in the impaired adrenergic vasoconstriction and nitrergic relaxation of penile arteries from a rat model of insulin resistance.


METHODS
The effect of ET receptor antagonists was evaluated on the contractile responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS) of penile arteries from obese Zucker rats (OZRs) compared with lean Zucker rats (LZRs). ET receptor expression was determined by immunohistochemistry.


METHODS
Changes in neural nitrergic relaxation and adrenergic vasoconstriction and the expression of ET receptors in perivascular nerves were assessed.


RESULTS
ET-1 (10(-10)  M) enhanced EFS-induced vasoconstriction, and treatment with the adrenergic neurotoxin guanethidine reduced the contractions induced by ET-1 in penile arteries from both LZRs and OZRs, thus supporting the hypothesis that ET-1 releases noradrenaline from adrenergic nerves. ET-1 antagonized neural nitric oxide (NO)-mediated relaxant responses in LZR arteries, antagonizing relaxations induced by the NO donor S-nitroso-N-acetylpenicillamine to a larger extent in arteries from OZRs. ET(A) and ET(B) receptors were expressed in perivascular fibers colocalized with the neuronal marker protein gene product 9.5 in penile arteries from OZRs. The ET(A) receptor antagonist BQ-123 reversed the enhancing effect of ET-1 on the vasoconstriction elicited by EFS and the ET-1-induced inhibition of nitrergic relaxations in LZRs, restoring them to control levels in penile arteries of OZRs.


CONCLUSIONS
ET-1 enhances adrenergic vasoconstriction through presynaptic ET(A) receptors and antagonizes neural NO-mediated relaxation through postsynaptic smooth muscle ET(A) receptors in penile arteries from OZRs, which likely contributes to the augmented vasoconstriction and blunted nitrergic relaxation of erectile tissue under conditions of insulin resistance.
Departamento de Fisiología, Facultad de Farmacia, Universidad Complutense, Madrid, Spain.
Ana
A
Sánchez
Cristina
C
Contreras
Pilar
P
Martínez
Mercedes
M
Muñoz
Ana Cristina
AC
Martínez
Albino
A
García-Sacristán
Medardo
M
Hernández
Dolores
D
Prieto
D018663:Adrenergic Agents / Q000494:pharmacology; D000818:Animals; D001158:Arteries / Q000502:physiology; D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1 / Q000378:metabolism / Q000502:physiology; D007172:Erectile Dysfunction / Q000503:physiopathology; D006145:Guanethidine / Q000494:pharmacology; D007328:Insulin / Q000494:pharmacology; D007333:Insulin Resistance / Q000502:physiology*; D008297:Male; D009126:Muscle Relaxation / Q000502:physiology; D009131:Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / Q000502:physiology; D009498:Neurotoxins / Q000494:pharmacology; D009569:Nitric Oxide / Q000502:physiology; D009765:Obesity / Q000503:physiopathology; D010410:Penile Erection / Q000187:drug effects; D010413:Penis / Q000098:blood supply*; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic / Q000494:pharmacology; D011924:Rats, Zucker; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A / Q000502:physiology*; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000502:physiology*; D014664:Vasodilation / Q000502:physiology; D014665:Vasodilator Agents / Q000494:pharmacology
D018663:Adrenergic Agents; D065130:Endothelin A Receptor Antagonists; D019332:Endothelin-1; D007328:Insulin; D009498:Neurotoxins; D010456:Peptides, Cyclic; D044022:Receptor, Endothelin A; D014665:Vasodilator Agents; D009569:Nitric Oxide; C072247:cyclo(Trp-Asp-Pro-Val-Leu); D006145:Guanethidine
Adrenergic Vasoconstriction; Endothelin Receptors; Nitrergic Relaxation; Obese Zucker Rat; Penile Arteries