Inorganic Arsenic Increases Vasoconstriction through Calcium-Sensitization in Vascular Smooth Muscles

Chronic exposure of arsenic is well known to be the cause of cardiovascular disease such as hypertension. In order to investigate the effect of arsenic on blood vessels. we examined whether arsenic affected agonist-induced contraction of aortic rings in isolated organ bath system. Treatment with arsenite increased vasoconstriction induced by phenylephrine or serotonin in a concentration-dependent manner. (omitted)