title: Endothelium-dependent vasodilation by ferulic acid in aorta from chronic renal hypertensive rats.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Ferulic acid (FA) is a naturally occurring nutritional compound. Although it has been shown to have antihypertensive effects, its effects on vascular function have not been intensively established. The aim of this study was to assess the vasoreactivity of FA in chronic two-kidney, one-clip (2K1C) renal hypertensive rats.
  
  
  METHODS
  Hypertension was induced in 2K1C rats by clipping the left renal artery and age-matched rats that received a sham treatment served as a control. Thoracic aortas were mounted in tissue baths to measure isometric tension. The effects of FA on vasodilatory responses were evaluated based on contractile responses induced by phenylephrine in the aortic rings obtained from both 2K1C and sham rats. Basal nitric oxide (NO) bioavailability in the aorta was determined by the contractile response induced by NO synthase inhibitor N (G)-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester (l-NAME).
  
  
  RESULTS
  FA induced concentration-dependent relaxation responses which were greater in 2K1C hypertensive rats than in sham-clipped control rats. This relaxation induced by FA was partially blocked by the removal of endothelium or by pretreating with l-NAME. l-NAME-induced contractile responses were augmented by FA in 2K1C rats, while no significant differences were noted in sham rats. FA improved acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent vasodilation in 2K1C rats, but not in sham rats. The simultaneous addition of hydroxyhydroquinone significantly inhibited the increase in acetylcholine-induced vasodilation by FA.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  These results suggest that FA restores endothelial function by altering the bioavailability of NO in 2K1C hypertensive rats. The results explain, in part, the mechanism underlying the vascular effects of FA in chronic renal hypertension.
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Seok
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Choi
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Il Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Sang
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hag Park
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Mi
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Jung Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jae
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Yeoul Jun
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lee Kim
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Jong
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hoon Chung
authors.affiliation: Department of Physiology, College of Medicine, Chosun University, Gwangju, Korea.
authors.forename: Cheol
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ho Yeum
keywords: Endothelium; Ferulic acid; Renal hypertension; Vasodilation