• YAKHAK HOEJI
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• v.33 no.1
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• pp.1-9
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• 1989

We have recently reported that $Mg^{++}-deficiency$ showed endothelium dependent relaxation in isolated canine coronary arteries precontracted with $PGF_{2{\alpha}}$. To differentiate the release of EDRF or $PGI_2$ from the endothelium cells as the cause of vasorelaxation by $Mg^{++}-deficiency$, effects of several inhibitors of arachidonic acid metabolism on the relaxation by $Mg^{++}-deficiency$ were evaluated and also compared with that of acetylcholine. Ibuprofen and tranylcypromine ($10{\mu}M$), an inhibitor of cyclo-oxygenase and $PGI_2$ synthetase, respectively, did not effect on $Mg^{++}-free$ induced vasorelaxation. Pretreatment of quinacrine ($10{\mu}M$), an inhibitor of phospholipase $A_2$ and also $Ca^{++}$ uptake, blocked vasorelaxation by $Mg^{++}-free$. But trifluoperazine ($10{\mu}M$), which is about as potent as quinacrine in the inhibition of $Ca^{++}$ uptake, did not effect on $Mg^{++}-deficiency$ induced vasorelaxation. NDGA ($10{\mu}M$), an inhibitor of lipoxygenase, completely restored $Mg^{++}-free$ induced vasorelaxation, even though pretreatment of that was not blocked which might be due to the characteristics of vasorelaxation of NDGA itself. Pretreatment of methylene blue ($10{\mu}M$), which is known as a inhibitor of EDRF through the blocking effect of guanylate cyclase, completely blocked vasorelaxation by $Mg^{++}-free$ as well as acetylcholine ($0.1{\mu}M$). Acetylcholine-induced dose response curve was also antagonized by pretreatment of quinacrine ($10{\mu}M$), but not by ibuprofen, tranylcypromine and NDGA. These results appear to suggest that $Mg^{++}-free$ induced vasorelaxation was mediated by the release of EDRF through the activation of phospholipase $A_2$ and noncyclo-oxygenase on arachidonate metabolism.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.43 no.4
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• pp.587-595
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• 2003

The aim of this study was to investigate trazodone's effect on vasorelaxation and blood pressure lowering and to examine its underlying mechanism of action in isolated thoracic aorta and anesthesized rats. Precontracted aortic rings with high KCl were relaxed with trazodone, at concentrations of $50{\mu}M$ or greater. However, precontracted rings with phenylephrine (PE) were relaxed with trazodone, at concentrations of $0.03{\mu}M$ or greater, in a concentration-dependent manner. These relaxant effects of trazodone on endothelium intact rat aortic rings were significantly greater than those on denuded rings. The trazodone-induced relaxations were suppressed by nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibitors, N(G)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA) and N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), guanylate cyclase inhibitors, methylene blue and 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), a $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channel blocker, tetrabutylammonium (TBA), a $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, nifedipine, $Na^+$ channel blockers, lidocaine and procaine, and removal of extracellular $Na^+$, but not by aminoguanidine, 2-nitro-4-carboxyphenyl-n, n-diphenylcarbamate (NCDC), indomethacin, glibenclamide and clotrimazole. In vivo, infusion of trazodone elicited significant decrease in arterial blood pressure. Trazodone-induced decrease in blood pressure was markedly inhibited by pretreatment of intravenous injection of saponin, L-NNA, methylene blue, TBA, lidocaine or nifedipine. These findings suggest that the endothelium-dependent relaxation and decrease in blood pressure induced by trazodone is mediated by release of NO from the endothelium, activation of TBA-sensitive $Ca^{2+}$-activated $K^+$ channels or inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ entry through voltage-gated channel.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.24 no.4
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• pp.592-597
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• 2010

Cinnamomi Ramulus is one of the medicinal plants that have been used to improve various diseases caused by insufficient blood circulation. This study was performed for the investigation of vasodilation efficacy ethanol extract of Cinnamomi Ramulus (CR). CR exhibited vascular relaxation against phenylephrine (PE, $10^{-6}M$)-, KCl- and NaF-induced contraction in rat thoracic aorta. In addition, its relaxation was endothelium-independent. Treatment of potassium channel blockers such as gilbenclamide (Gli, $10^{-5}M$), tetraethylammonium (TEA, 1 mM) and 4-aminopyridine (4-AP, 0.2 mM) did not effect on the relaxation of CR. The relaxant effects were also not inhibited by pre-treatment of rat aorta with L-NAME ($10^{-4}M$), methylene blue ($10^{-5}M$), indomethacin ($10^{-5}M$), and atropine ($10^{-6}M$). However, nifedipine ($10^{-5}M$), L-type $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker, in part attenuated the relaxation of CR ($0.2\;mg/m{\ell}$), but SK&F96365 ($3{\times}10^{-5}M$), receptor activated $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker and 2-APB ($10^{-4}M$), store operated $Ca^{2+}$ channel blocker did not affact dilation of CR. These findings suggest that the endothelium-independent relaxation effect of CR is partly related with inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ influx via voltage dependent $Ca^{2+}$ channel.

• Journal of Pharmacopuncture
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• v.19 no.4
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• pp.329-335
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• 2016

Objectives: Safranal is a pharmacologically active component of saffron and is responsible for the unique aroma of saffron. The hypotensive effect of safranal has been shown in previous studies. This study evaluates the mechanism for the vasodilatory effects induced by safranal on isolated rat aortas. Methods: To study the vasodilatory effects of safranal (0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 mM), we contracted isolated rat thoracic aorta rings by using $10^{-6}-M$ phenylephrine (PE) or 80-mM KCl. Dimethyl sulfoxide (DMSO) was used as a control. The vasodilatory effect of safranal was also evaluated both on intact and denuded endothelium aortic rings. Furthermore, to study the role of nitric oxide and prostacyclin in the relaxation induced by safranal, we incubated the aortic rings by using L-NAME ($10^{-6}M$) or indomethacin ($10^{-5}M$), each for 20 minutes. Results: Safranal induced relaxation in endothelium-intact aortic rings precontracted by using PE or KCl in a concentration-dependent manner, with a maximum relaxation of more than 100%. The relaxant activity of safranal was not eliminated by incubating the aortic rings with L-NAME ($EC_{50}=0.29$ vs. $EC_{50}=0.43$) or with indomethacin ($EC_{50}=0.29$ vs. $EC_{50}=0.35$), where $EC_{50}$ is the half maximal effective concentration. Also, the vasodilatory activity of safranal was not modified by endothelial removal. Conclusion: This study indicated that relaxant activity of safranal is mediated predominantly through an endothelium-independent mechanism.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• v.26 no.4
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• pp.374-379
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• 2018

In this study, we investigated the effects of pelargonidin, an anthocyanidin found in many fruits and vegetables, on endothelium-independent vascular contractility to determine the underlying mechanism of relaxation. Isometric contractions of denuded aortic muscles from male rats were recorded, and the data were combined with those obtained in western blot analysis. Pelargonidin significantly inhibited fluoride-, thromboxane A2-, and phorbol ester-induced vascular contractions, regardless of the presence or absence of endothelium, suggesting a direct effect of the compound on vascular smooth muscles via a different pathway. Pelargonidin significantly inhibited the fluoride-dependent increase in the level of myosin phosphatase target subunit 1 (MYPT1) phosphorylation at Thr-855 and the phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-dependent increase in the level of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2 phosphorylation at Thr202/Tyr204, suggesting the inhibition of Rho-kinase and mitogen-activated protein kinase kinase (MEK) activities and subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1 and ERK1/2. These results suggest that the relaxation effect of pelargonidin on agonist-dependent vascular contractions includes inhibition of Rho-kinase and MEK activities, independent of the endothelial function.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.797-801
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• 2005

While conducting an in vitro screening of various medicinal plant extracts, an aqueous extract of Rosa rugosa Radix (ARR) was found to exhibit a distinct vasorelaxant activity. ARR induced a concentration-dependent relaxation of the phenylephrine-precontracted aorta. This effect disappeared with the removal of functional endothelium. Pretreatment of the aortic tissues with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or 1H-[1,2,4]-oxadiazole-[4,3-]-quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) completely inhibited the relaxation induced by ARR. ARR-induced vascular relaxations were also markedly attenuated by addition of diltiazem or verapamil. However, the relaxant effect of ARR was not blocked by pretreatment with indomethacine, tetraethylammonium (TEA), glibenclamide, atropine, or propranolol. Taken together, the present study suggests that ARR dilates vascular smooth muscle via endothelium-dependent NO/cGMP signaling.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• v.26 no.2
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• pp.77-86
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• 2022

The effect of PHAR-DBH-Me, a cannabinoid receptor agonist, on different cardiovascular responses in adult male rats was analyzed. The blood pressure was measured directly and indirectly. The coronary flow was measured by Langendorff preparation, and vasomotor responses induced by PHAR-DBH-Me in aortic rings precontracted with phenylephrine (PHEN) were analyzed. The intravenous injection of the compound PHAR-DBH-Me (0.018-185 ㎍/kg) resulted in decreased blood pressure; maximum effect was observed at the dose of 1,850 ㎍/kg. A concentrationdependent increase in the coronary flow was observed in a Langendorff preparation. In the aortic rings, with and without endothelium, pre-contracted with PHEN (10^-6 M), the addition of PHAR-DBH-Me to the superfusion solution (10^-12-10^-5 M), produced a vasodilator response, which depends on the concentration and presence of the endothelium. L-NAME inhibited these effects. Addition of CB₁ receptor antagonist (AM 251) did not modify the response, while CB₂ receptor antagonist (AM630) decreased the potency of relaxation elicited by PHAR-DBH-Me. Indomethacin shifted the curve concentration-response to the left and produced an increase in the magnitude of the maximum endothelium dependent response to this compound. The maximum effect of PHAR-DBH-Me was observed with the concentration of 10^-5 M. These results show that PHAR-DBH-Me has a concentration-dependent and endothelium-dependent vasodilator effect through CB₂ receptor. This vasodilation is probably mediated by the synthesis/release of NO. On the other hand, it is suggested that PHAR-DBH-Me also induces the release of a vasoconstrictor prostanoid.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.27 no.4
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• pp.400-408
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• 2013

This study aimed to investigate the relaxation effects and its underlying mechanisms of Rubus coreanus(RC) extract in contracted rabbit corpus cavernous tissues by phenylephrine(PE) $1{\mu}M$. In order to define the relaxation effects of RC, rabbit corpus cavernous tissues were prepared in $2{\times}2{\times}6mm$ sized strip. The dose-dependent relaxation responses of RC at 0.01-3.0 $mg/m{\ell}$ in contracted strips induced by PE were measured and also observed after endothelial denudation. To analyze the underlying mechanisms of RC-induced relaxation, indomethacin(IM), tetraethylammonium chloride(TEA), $N{\omega}$-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA), methylene blue(MB) were treated before RC extract infused into precontracted strips induced by PE. To study the effect of RC extract on influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ in corpus cavernous strips, calcium chloride(Ca) 1 mM infused into precontracted strips induced by PE after pretreatment of RC extract in $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs-ringer solution. To investigate cytotoxic activity and nitric oxide(NO) concentration of RC extract on human umbilical vein endothelial cell(HUVEC), cell viability on HUVEC was measured by MTT assay, and NO concentration was measured by Griess reagent system. The cavernous strips were significantly relaxed by RC extract at 1.0 $mg/m{\ell}$, 3.0 $mg/m{\ell}$ and the relaxation responses to RC were inhibited significantly by endothelial disruption. The pretreatment of IM, TEA didn't affect RC extract-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation, but the pretreatment of L-NNA, MB reduced RC extract-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation. When $Ca^{2+}$ was supplied the cavernous strips which were precontracted by PE in a $Ca^{2+}$-free krebs-ringer solution, contraction of strips was increased, but pretreatment of RC inhibited contractile response to $Ca^{2+}$. When RC extract was applicated on HUVEC, NO concentration was increased. Our findings show that RC extract exerts a relaxing effect on corpus cavernosum in part by suppressing influx of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$ through activating the NO-cGMP system.

• Korean Journal of Veterinary Research
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• v.41 no.3
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• pp.299-304
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• 2001

The effect of the nitric oxide synthase(NOS) inhibitor, $N^{G}$-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), and the prostanoid synthesis inhibitor, indomethacin, on the vasodilatation produced in response to acetylcholine(Ach) on the isolated rabbit renal artery was examined. The vasodilatory reponses to Ach($10^{-8}-3{\times}10^{-5}M$) were completely absent in thevessel which the endothelium had previous been removed. L-NAME($10^{-4}M$) significantly reduced the vasodilatory reponse to the Ach($10^{-8}-3{\times}10^{-5}M$). When L-arginine ($10^{-3}M$) was also present in the organ bath along with L-NAME($10^{-4}M$), this inhibitory effect of L-NAME ($10^{-4}M$) on the vasodilatory response to Ach ($10^{-8}-3{\times}10^{-5}M$) was significantly attenuated, Indomethacin ($10^{-6}M$) did not significantly affect the vasodilatory responses to Ach ($10^{-8}-3{\times}10^{-5}M$). The inhibition by L-NAME ($10^{-4}M$) and indomethacin ($10^{-6}M$) on vasodilatory response to Ach was significantly greater than the inhibition due to L-NAME ($10^{-4}M$) alone. The present study has established that Ach induce relaxation via and endothelium-dependent mechanism, this relaxation to Ach involves both nitric oxide(NO) and prostanoid in the isolated rabbit renal artery.

• Journal of Physiology & Pathology in Korean Medicine
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• v.19 no.3
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• pp.743-748
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• 2005

This study was performed for the investigation of vasodilatory efficacy and its underlying mechanisms of Jagumhuan(JGH), a herbal remedy. JGH produced completely endothelium-dependent relaxation and relaxed phenylephrine(PE)-precontracted aorta in a concentration dependent manner. The magnitude of relaxation was greater in PE induced contraction than that of KCl, suggesting involvement of $K^+$ channel in the relaxant effect. Both glibenclamide$(10^{-5}M)$, a $K_{ATP}$ channel inhibitor and indometacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, completely prevented this relaxation. The relaxation effects of JGH, involve in part the release of nitric oxide from the endothelium as pretreatment with L-NAME, an NOS inhibitor, and methylene blue, a cGMP inhibitor, attenuated the responses by 62% and 58%, respectively. In addition, nitrite was produced by JGH in human aortic smooth muscle cells and human umbilical vein endothelial cells. The relaxant effect of JGH was also inhibited by 55.41% by tetraethylammonium(TEA; 5mM), a $K_{Ca}$ channel inhibitor. In the absence of extracellular $Ca^{2+}$, pre-incubation of the aortic rings with JGH significantly reduced the contraction by PE, suggesting that the relaxant action of the JGH includes inhibition of $Ca^{2+}$ release from intracellular stores. These results indicate that in rat thoracic aorta, JGH may induce vasodilation through ATP sensitive $K^+$ channel activation by prostacyclin production. However, the relaxant effect of JGH may also mediated in part by NO pathways and $Ca^{2+}$ activated $K^+$ channel.