title: Roles of ion channels in regulation of acetylcholine-mediated vasoconstrictions in umbilical cords of rabbit/rats.
abstract: We recently demonstrated that acetylcholine (ACh) produced reliable vasoconstrictions in the umbilical cords. This study investigated the possible mechanisms with different antagonists. ACh-mediated vasoconstrictions were decreased by voltage-operated calcium (Ca2+) channels antagonist nifedipine or inositol-1,4,5-trisphosphate-mediated Ca2+release antagonist 2-aminoethyl diphenylborinate, indicating that both extracellular and intracellular calcium modulated the ACh-stimulated umbilical contraction. Intracellular Ca2+concentrations were increased simultaneously with vasoconstrictions by ACh in the umbilical vessels. Inhibiting large-conductance calcium-dependent potassium (BK) channels enhanced ACh-mediated contraction, whereas inhibiting voltage dependent potassium (K+), inward rectifier K+and ATP-sensitive K+channels had no effects. Incubation with specific K+channel inhibitors showed that ACh suppressed BK currents rather than 4-aminopyridine-sensitive K+channels currents. The results suggested that blood vessels in umbilical cords had special characteristics in response to cholinergic signals. ACh-stimulated umbilical vasoconstrictions were mediated via muscarinic receptor subtype 1/3-protein kinase C/cyclooxygenase-BK channel pathways.
authors.affiliation: Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
authors.forename: Zhoufeng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
authors.forename: Jiaqi
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Tang
authors.affiliation: Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
authors.forename: Xiuwen
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhou
authors.affiliation: Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China; Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Sharon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Xiang
authors.affiliation: Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
authors.forename: Xiaolin
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Zhu
authors.affiliation: Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
authors.forename: Na
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
authors.forename: Ruixiu
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Shi
authors.affiliation: Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China.
authors.forename: Yuan
authors.initials: Y
authors.lastname: Zhong
authors.affiliation: Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA.
authors.forename: Lubo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zhang
authors.affiliation: Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China. Electronic address: miaosunsuda@163.com.
authors.forename: Miao
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Sun
authors.affiliation: Institute for Fetology, the First Affiliated Hospital of Soochow University, Suzhou 215006, China; Center for Perinatal Biology, Loma Linda University, Loma Linda, CA, USA. Electronic address: xuzhice@suda.edu.cn.
authors.forename: Zhice
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Xu
mesh_terms: D000109:Acetylcholine / Q000494:pharmacology*; D000818:Animals; D002118:Calcium / Q000502:physiology; D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015220:Calcium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D002339:Carotid Arteries / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists / Q000494:pharmacology*; D005260:Female; D066298:In Vitro Techniques; D032389:Myocytes, Smooth Muscle / Q000187:drug effects / Q000502:physiology; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers / Q000494:pharmacology; D015221:Potassium Channels / Q000502:physiology*; D011247:Pregnancy; D011817:Rabbits; D017207:Rats, Sprague-Dawley; D014470:Umbilical Cord / Q000187:drug effects* / Q000502:physiology; D014661:Vasoconstriction / Q000187:drug effects*
chemical_list: D002121:Calcium Channel Blockers; D015220:Calcium Channels; D018679:Cholinergic Agonists; D026902:Potassium Channel Blockers; D015221:Potassium Channels; D000109:Acetylcholine; D002118:Calcium
keywords: Acetylcholine; Calcium channel; Potassium channel; Umbilical cord