• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제23권5호
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• pp.403-409
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• 2019

Free fatty acid (FFA) intake regulates blood pressure and vascular reactivity but its direct effect on contractility of systemic arteries is not well understood. We investigated the effects of saturated fatty acid (SFA, palmitic acid), polyunsaturated fatty acid (PUFA, linoleic acid), and monounsaturated fatty acid (MUFA, oleic acid) on the contractility of isolated mesenteric (MA) and deep femoral arteries (DFA) of Sprague-Dawley rats. Isolated MA and DFA were mounted on a dual wire myograph and phenylephrine (PhE, $1-10{\mu}M$) concentration-dependent contraction was obtained with or without FFAs. Incubation with $100{\mu}M$ of palmitic acid significantly increased PhE-induced contraction in both arteries. In MA, treatment with $100{\mu}M$ of linoleic acid decreased $1{\mu}M$ PhE-induced contraction while increasing the response to higher PhE concentrations. In DFA, linoleic acid slightly decreased PhE-induced contraction while $200{\mu}M$ oleic acid significantly decreased it. In MA, oleic acid reduced contraction at low PhE concentration (1 and $2{\mu}M$) while increasing it at $10{\mu}M$ PhE. Perplexingly, depolarization by 40 mM KCl-induced contraction of MA was commonly enhanced by the three fatty acids. The 40 mM KCl-contraction of DFA was also augmented by linoleic and oleic acids while not affected by palmitic acid. SFA persistently increased alpha-adrenergic contraction of systemic arteries whereas PUFA and MUFA attenuated PhE-induced contraction of skeletal arteries. PUFA and MUFA concentration-dependent dual effects on MA suggest differential mechanisms depending on the types of arteries. Further studies are needed to elucidate underlying mechanisms of the various effects of FFA on systemic arteries.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제30권2호
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• pp.145-150
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• 2022

In this study, we investigated the influence of galangin on vascular contractibility and to determine the mechanism underlying the relaxation. Isometric contractions of denuded aortic muscles were recorded and combined with western blot analysis which was performed to measure the phosphorylation of phosphorylation-dependent inhibitory protein of myosin phosphatase (CPI-17) and myosin phosphatase targeting subunit 1 (MYPT1) and to evaluate the effect of galangin on the RhoA/ROCK/CPI-17 pathway. Galangin significantly inhibited phorbol ester-, fluoride- and thromboxane mimetic-induced vasoconstrictions regardless of endothelial nitric oxide synthesis, suggesting its direct effect on vascular smooth muscle. Galangin significantly inhibited the fluoride-dependent increase in pMYPT1 and pCPI-17 levels and phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate-dependent increase in pERK1/2 level, suggesting repression of ROCK and MEK activity and subsequent phosphorylation of MYPT1, CPI-17 and ERK1/2. Taken together, these results suggest that galangin-induced relaxation involves myosin phosphatase reactivation and calcium desensitization, which appears to be mediated by CPI-17 dephosphorylation via not PKC but ROCK inactivation.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제46권6호
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• pp.402-412
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• 2013

Background: Moderate and severe hypothermia with cardiopulmonary bypass during aortic surgery can cause some complications such as endothelial cell dysfunction or coagulation disorders. This study found out the difference of vascular reactivity by phenylephrine in moderate and severe hypothermia. Methods: Preserved aortic endothelium by excised rat thoracic aorta was sectioned, and then down the temperature rapidly to $25^{\circ}C$ by 15 minutes at $38^{\circ}C$ and then the vascular tension was measured. The vascular tension was also measured in rewarming at $25^{\circ}C$ for temperatures up to $38^{\circ}C$. To investigate the mechanism of the changes in vascular tension on hypothermia, NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl esther (L-NAME) and indomethacin administered 30 minutes before the phenylephrine administration. And to find out the hypothermic effect can persist after rewarming, endothelium intact vessel and endothelium denuded vessel exposed to hypothermia. The bradykinin dose-response curve was obtained for ascertainment whether endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization factor involves decreasing the phenylnephrine vascular reactivity on hypothermia. Results: Fifteen minutes of the moderate hypothermia blocked the maximum contractile response of phenylephrine about 95%. The vasorelaxation induced by hypothermia was significantly reduced with L-NAME and indomethacin administration together. There was a significant decreasing in phenylephrine susceptibility and maximum contractility after 2 hours rewarming from moderate and severe hypothermia in the endothelium intact vessel compared with contrast group. Conclusion: The vasoplegic syndrome after cardiac surgery might be caused by hypothermia when considering the vascular reactivity to phenylephrine was decreased in the endothelium-dependent mechanism.

• 약학회지
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• 제45권1호
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• pp.78-84
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• 2001

Heme oxygenase is a rate-limiting enzyme in heme catabolism that cleaves heme to form biliverdin, iron, and carbon monoxide. Heme oxygenase-1 is expressed in many types of cells and tissues and is highly induced in response to oxidative stress. Carbon monoxide, one of the products of heme oxygenase, can stimulate soluble guanylate cyclase and dilate the vascular smooth muscle. So, the induction of heme oxygenase by lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced oxydative stress and the effect of the resultant carbon monoxide on aortic contractility were examined in this study. Zinc protoporphyrine IX (ZnPP), a inhibitor of heme oxygenase, elicited weak contraction of thoracic aortic ring, and this effect was more potent in aorta of LPS-treated rats than control and was blocked by methylene blue. The hyperreactivity to ZnPP in LPS-treated group was blocked by co-treatment with aminoguanidine. In the aortic ring of LPS-treated rats, ZnPP didn't change the vasoreactivity to phenylephrine or acetylcholine. ZnPP elicited hyper-tensive effect in concious rats, and pretreatment with LPS did not affect this effect. Prazosin significantly diminished the hypertensive effect of ZnPP. These results indicate that LPS induced heme oxygenase in aotra, and the resultant carbon monoxide diminished the aortic reactivity to vasoconstrictor.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제19권4호
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• pp.477-486
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• 2011

The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether polyphenol-rich fraction extracted from fruit wine of Rubus coreanum M (PCRC) can affect the contractility of the thoacic aortic strips isolated from spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs), and to clarify its mechanism of action. PCRC (200-800 ${\mu}g/mL$) concentration-depenedently blocked phenylephrine (10 ${\mu}M$)-induced contractile responses of the isolated aortic strips of SHRs. PCRC (400 ${\mu}g/mL$), added in to bath medium, also depressed the contractile active tension evoked by both phenylephrine (3 and 10 ${\mu}M$) and high potassium (25 and 56 mM). In the simultaneous presence of PCRC (400 ${\mu}g/mL$) and L-NAME (a selective inhibitor of NO synthase, 300 ${\mu}M$), the contractile responses evoked by phenylephrine and high $K^+$ were recovered to considerable level of the corresponding control contractility compared with those effects of PCRC-treatment alone. However, in the simultaneous presence of indomethacin (10 ${\mu}M$, a selective cyclooxygenase inhibitor) and PCRC (400 ${\mu}g/mL$), they were not affected. In the endothelium-denuded aortic strips by CHAPS-treatment, PCRC did not affect the contractile responses induced by phenylephrine or high potassium. Interestingly, PCRC (1.0, 3.0 and 10.0 mg/kg/30 min, i.v., respectively) dose-dependently suppressed norepiphrine-induced vasopressor responses in anesthetized SHRs. Collectively, we concluded that PCRC causes vasorelaxation in the thoracic aortic strips with intact endothelium of SHRs at least partly by the increased NO production through the activation of NO synthase of vascular endothelium, but not through the activation of cyclooxygenase. These results suggest that PCRC might be helpful to prevent or alleviate cardiovascular diseases, including hypertension.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제28권2호
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• pp.181-190
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• 1994

Endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) activates guanylate cyclase which mediates the formation of cGMP from GTP in vascular smooth muscle. It is well known that endothelium-dependent relaxation is impaired in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). However, it is still unknown whether the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in SHR results from the reduced release of EDRF or from the decrease of vascular response to EDRF. We investigated the effects of cGMP on the contractility and Ca movement in the aorta of SHR and Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY). The amplitude of the endothelium-dependent relaxation to actylcholine (ACh) was significantly less in SHR than in WKY. L-arginine $(10^{-3}M)$ did not increase endothelium-dependent relaxation in both strains. Sodium nitroprusside (SNP), an activator of guanylate cyclase, relaxed the 40 mM $K^+-induced$ contraction in a dose-dependent manner $(10^{-10}{\sim}10^{-6}\;M)$ in the endothelium-rubbed aortic strips of both strains. However, there was no significant difference in these relaxations between WKY and SHR. 8-bromo-cyclic guanosine monophosphate (8-Br-cGMP), a cell membrane-permeable derivative of cGMP relaxed the 40 mM $K^+-induced$ contraction in a dose-dependent manner $(10^{-6}{\sim}10^{-4}\;M)$ in the endothelium-rubbed aortic strips of both strains. Also norepinephrine $(10^{-6}\;M)-induced$ contractions in normal and Ca-free Tyrode's solution were suppressed by the pretreatment with 8-Br-cGMP $(10^{-4}\;M)$ in either strain. However, the amplitudes of suppression induced by 8-Br-cGMP were greater in SHR than that in WKY. Basal $^{45}Ca$ uptake and 40mM $K^+-stimulated\;^{45}Ca$ uptake were not suppressed by pretreatment with 8-Br-cGMP $(10^{-4}\;M)$ in single aortic smooth muscle cells of both SHR and WKY. From the above results, it is suggested that cGMP decreases Ca sensitivity in vascular smooth muscle cells and that the impaired endothelium-dependent relaxation in the aortic strips of SHR is not the result of a reduced vascular response to EDRF.

• Journal of Chest Surgery
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• 제37권3호
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• pp.210-219
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• 2004

외부 자극에 의하여 세포 내 $Ca^2$$^{+}$이 증가하면 세포 내 $K^{+}$이 유출되어 세포 외 $K^{+}$ 농도는 수 mM 범위에서 증가할 수 있다. 이러한 세포 외 $K^{+}$의 증가가 혈관 수축성에 미치는 영향을 규명하고자, 세포 외 $K^{+}$가 혈관평활근 수축성, 내피세포 의존성 이완과 혈관내피세포 $Ca^2$$^{+}$ 농도에 미치는 영향을 알아보고자 하였다. 토끼에서 분리한 경동맥, 상장간막동맥 분지, 기저동맥과 쥐의 대동맥에서 등장성 수축을 기록하였으며 배양한 쥐의 대동맥 혈관내피세포와 인간 제대정맥 내피세포에서 세포 내 $Ca^2$$^{+}$ 변화를 측정하였다. 세포 외 $K^{+}$ 농도를 6에서 12 mM로 증가하는 경우 도관동맥인 토끼 경동맥은 수축성에 변화가 없는 반면 저항혈관인 기저동맥과 상장간막동맥분지는 이완하였다. 이러한 $K^{+}$ 유발 이완은 혈관 종류에 따라 차이가 있었는데 기저동맥에서는 세포 외 $K^{+}$ 농도를 6에서 12 mM로 증가하였을 때보다 세포 외 $K^{+}$ 농도를 1에서 3 mM로 증가하였을 때 더 크게 이완하였으며 상장간막동맥의 분지에서는 반대로 세포 외 $K^{+}$ 농도를 6에서 12 mM로 증가하였을 때 더 크게 이완하였다. 그리고 세포 외 $K^{+}$ 농도를 6에서 12 mM로 증가하였을 때의 이완은 $Ba^2$$^{+}$에 의하여 억제되는 반면 1에서 3 mM로 증가에 의한 이완은 억제되지 않았다. 쥐 대동맥에서도 토끼 경동맥과 동일한 효과가 관찰되었는데 세포 외 $K^{+}$ 농도를 6 mM에서 12 mM로 변화시켜도 norepinephrine혹은 prostaglandin $F_2$$_{\alpha}$에 의한 수축력은 유의한 변화가 없었다. 또한 세포 외 $K^{+}$ 농도를 점차 증가시키는 경우 12 mM 이상 증가가 되면 혈관평활근이 수축하기 시작하였지만 12 mM 이하의 증가에 의해서는 혈관평활근의 수축력은 증가하지 않았다. 한편 쥐 대동맥에서 acetylcholine에 의하여 유발된 내피세포 의존성 이완은 세포 외 $K^{+}$ 농도를 정상 6 mM에서 12 mM로 증가시키면 억제되었다. 한편 배양한 쥐 대동맥 내피세포에서는 acetylcholine 혹은 ATP에 의하여 세포 내 $Ca^2$$^{+}$이 증가하였다. 증가한 세포 내 $Ca^2$$^{+}$은 세포 외 $K^{+}$농도를 6 mM에서 12 mM로 증가시키면 가역적 및 농도 의존적으로 감소하였다. 세포 외 $K^{+}$ 증가에 의한 세포 내 $Ca^2$$^{+}$ 억제 효과는 인간 제대정맥 내피세포에서도 관찰되었다. 그리고 세포 외 $K^{+}$ 증가에 의한 내피세포 의존성 이완의 억제효과는 $Na^{+}$- $K^{+}$ pump 억제제인 ouabain과 $Na^{+}$-C $a^2$$^{+}$exchanger 억제제인 N $i^2$$^{+}$에 의하여 억제되었다. 이러한 실험 결과로 미루어 세포 외 $K^+$의 증가는 저항혈관 평활근을 이완시키는데 그 기전은 혈관 종류에 따라 차이가 있었다. 그리고 세포 외 $K^{+}$의 증가는 혈관내피세포 $Ca^2$$^{+}$을 감소시켜 내피세포 의존성 이완을 억제하는데 이는 $Na^2$$^{+}$- $K^2$$^{+}$pump를 활성화시켜 일어나는 것으로 생각된다.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology
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• 제23권1호
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• pp.99-108
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• 1989

The effects of prostaglandin $(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ on the contractility of vascular smooth muscle were investigated in the helical strip of the rabbit aorta. The aortic strip was immersed in the phosphate-buffered Tyrode's solution which was equilibrated with 100% $O_{2}$ at $35^{\circ}C$ and its isometric tension was measured. The contraction was induced by $(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$, norepinephrine (NE), or potassium (40 mM) in the nomal Tyrode's solution (1 mM, $Ca^{2+}$) or $Ca^{2+}-free$ Tyrode's solution. Effects of verapamil and phentolamine on the contraction were also observed. The aortic strip began to contract at the concentration of $5\;{\mu}g%$ and reached the maximal contraction at the concentration of $150\;{\mu}g%$ $(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$. The maximal contraction was corresponded respectively to $52.2{\pm}3.0%$ and $81.5{\pm}3.5%$ of maximal contraction by NE $(1{\times}10^{-5}M)$ and 40 mM $K^{+}$. And the maximal contractions by $(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ or NE were induced at the concentration of about 1 mM $Ca^{2+}$. $(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ induced the contraction of aortic strip even after induction of contraction by 40 mM $K^{+}$ and the contraction by $(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ was not blocked by the ${\alpha}-receptor$ blocker, phentolamine. And the contraction by the $(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ was inhibited partially by a verapamil at the concentration of $1{\times}10^{-5}M$ and the contraction began to increase at the concentration of $1{\times}10^{-4}M$ verapamil. Whereas the contraction by NE was completely blocked by verapamil. Though both the $(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ and NE induced the contraction in the $Ca^{2+}-free$ Tyrode's solution, the peak tension was not maintained. But the rate of tension decline was lower in the contraction by $(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ than in that by NE. The verapamil did not inhibit the contraction by $(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ in the $Ca^{2+}-free$ Tyrode's solution and increased the contraction at the concentration of above $1{\times}10^{-4}M$. The NE-induced contraction in the $Ca^{2+}-free$ Tyrode's solution was inhibited completely by a verapamil. From the above results it is suggested that the contraction induced by $(PGF_{2{\alpha}})$ results from the promotion of the both $Ca^{2+}$ influx and the intracellular $Ca^{2+}$ release by different way from NE.

• Biomolecules & Therapeutics
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• 제26권4호
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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.

• The Korean Journal of Physiology and Pharmacology
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• 제3권4호
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• pp.375-382
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• 1999

Growing evidence indicates that enhanced generation or actions of nitric oxide (NO) are implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats and diabetic nephropathy in streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetic rats. We investigated whether inducible nitric oxide synthase (iNOS) expression in STZ-induced diabetic rats is responsible for the alterations of vascular reactivity. Diabetic state was confirmed 28 days after injection of STZ (i.p) in rats by measuring blood glucose. In order to evaluate whether short term (4 weeks) diabetic state is related with altered vascular reactivity caused by iNOS expression, isometric tension experiments were performed. In addition, plasma nitrite/nitrate (NOx) levels and expression of iNOS in the lung and aorta of control and STZ-treated rats were compared by using Griess reagent and Western analysis, respectively. Results indicated that STZ-treated rats increased the maximal contractile response of the aorta to phenylephrine (PE), and high $K^+,$ while the sensitivity remained unaltered. Endothelium-dependent relaxation, but not SNP-mediated relaxation, was reduced in STZ-treated rats. Plasma nitrite/nitrates are significantly increased in STZ-treated rats compared to controls. The malondialdehyde (MDA) contents of liver, serum, and aorta of diabetic rats were also significantly increased. Furthermore, nitrotyrosine, a specific foot print of peroxynitrite, was significantly increased in endothelial cells and smooth muscle layers in STZ-induced diabetic aorta. Taken together, the present findings indicate that enhanced release of NO by iNOS along with increased lipid peroxidation in diabetic conditions may be responsible, at least in part, for the augmented contractility, possibly through the modification of endothelial integrity or ecNOS activity of endothelium in STZ-diabetic rat aorta.