Calcitonin gene-related peptide inhibits angiotensin II-mediated vasoconstriction in human radial arteries: role of the Kir channel

Diminazene aceturate uses different pathways to induce relaxation in healthy and atherogenic blood vessels

Diminazene aceturate (DIZE), a putative angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) activator, elicits relaxation in various animal models. This study aimed to determine the relaxing mechanisms in internal iliac arteries utilised by DIZE in healthy and atherogenic rabbit models. Studies were conducted on internal iliac artery rings retrieved from male New Zealand White rabbits fed a 4-week healthy control (n = 24) or atherogenic diet (n = 20). To investigate pathways utilised by DIZE to promote arterial relaxation, a DIZE dose response [10^-9.0 M - 10^-5.0 M] was performed on pre-contracted rings incubated with pharmaceuticals that target: components of the renin-angiotensin system; endothelial- and vascular smooth muscle-dependent mechanisms; protein kinases; and potassium channels. ACE2 expression was quantified by immunohistochemistry analysis following a 2 hr or 4 hr DIZE incubation. DIZE significantly enhanced vessel relaxation in atherogenic rings at doses [10^-5.5 M] (p < 0.01) and [10^-5.0 M] (p < 0.0001), when compared to healthy controls. Comprehensive results from functional isometric studies determined that DIZE causes relaxation via different mechanisms depending on pathology. For the first time, we report that in healthy blood vessels DIZE exerts its direct relaxing effect through ACE2/AT₂R and NO/sGC pathways; however, in atherogenesis this switches to MasR, arachidonic acid pathway (i.e., COX1/2, EET and DHET), MCLP, Ca²⁺ activated voltage channels, AMPK and ERK1/2. Moreover, quantitative immunohistochemical analysis demonstrated that DIZE increases artery ACE2 expression in a time dependent manner. We provide a detailed investigation of DIZE's mechanisms and demonstrate for the first time that in healthy and atherogenic arteries DIZE provides beneficial effects through directly inducing relaxation, albeit via different pathways.

Reduction of angiotensin A and alamandine vasoactivity in the rabbit model of atherogenesis: differential effects of alamandine and Ang(1-7)

Novel treatments are necessary to reduce the burden of cardiovascular disease (CVD). Alamandine binds to MrgD and is reported to induce vasodilation via stimulation of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS), but its role in atherogenic blood vessels is yet to be determined. To determine the vasoactive role of alamandine and its precursor AngA in diseased aorta, New Zealand White rabbits were fed a diet containing 1% methionine + 0.5% cholesterol + 5% peanut oil for 4 weeks (MC, n = 5) or control (n = 6). In abdominal aorta, alamandine (1 μM) was added 30 min before a dose-response curve to angiotensin II or AngA (1 nM-1 μM), and immunohistochemistry was used to identify MrgD receptors and eNOS. The thoracic aorta, renal, carotid and iliac arteries were mounted in organ baths. Rings were precontracted with phenylephrine, then a bolus dose of alamandine (1 μM) was added 10 min before a dose-response curve to acetylcholine (0.01 μM-10 μM). The MrgD receptor was localized to normal and diseased aorta and colocalized with eNOS. In control but not diseased blood vessels, alamandine enhanced acetylcholine-mediated vasodilation in the thoracic aorta and the iliac artery (P < 0.05) and reduced it in the renal artery (P < 0.05). In control abdominal aorta, AngA evoked less desensitization than AngII (P < 0.05) and alamandine reduced AngA-mediated vasoconstriction (P < 0.05). In MC, AngA constriction was markedly reduced vs. control (P < 0.05). The vasoactivity of alamandine and AngA are reduced in atherogenesis. Its role in the prevention of CVD remains to be validated.

Regulation of NO-dependent acetylcholine relaxation by K+ channels and the Na+-K+ ATPase pump in porcine internal mammary artery

This study was designed to determine whether K+ channels play a role in nitric oxide (NO)-dependent acetylcholine relaxation in porcine internal mammary artery (IMA). IMA segments were isolated and mounted in organ baths to record isometric tension. Acetylcholine-elicited vasodilation was abolished by muscarinic receptor blockade with atropine (10(-6)M). Incubation with indomethacin (3 x 10(-6)M), superoxide dismutase (150 U/ml) and bosentan (10(-5)M) did not modify the acetylcholine response ruling out the participation of cyclooxygenase-derivates, reactive oxygen species or endothelin. The relaxation response to acetylcholine was strongly diminished by NO synthase- or soluble guanylyl cyclase-inhibition using L-NOArg (10(-4)M) or ODQ (3 x 10(-6)M), respectively. The vasodilation induced by acetylcholine and a NO donor (NaNO(2)) was reduced when rings were contracted with an enriched K+ solution (30 mM), by voltage-dependent K+ (K(v)) channel blockade with 4-amynopiridine (4-AP; 10(-4)M), by Ca(2+)-activated K+ (K(Ca)) channel blockade with tetraethylammonium (TEA; 10(-3)M), and by apamin (5 x 10(-7)M) plus charybdotoxin (ChTx; 10(-7)M) but not when these were added alone. In contrast, large conductance K(Ca) (BK(Ca)), ATP-sensitive K+ (K(ATP)) and inwardly rectifying K+ (K(ir)) channel blockade with iberiotoxin (IbTx; 10(-7)M), glibenclamide (10(-6)M) and BaCl(2) (3 x 10(-5)M), respectively, did not alter the concentration-response curves to acetylcholine and NaNO(2). Na+-K+ ATPase pump inhibition with ouabain (10(-5)M) practically abolished acetylcholine and NaNO(2) relaxations. Our findings suggest that acetylcholine-induced relaxation is largely mediated through the NO-cGMP pathway, involving apamin plus ChTx-sensitive K+ and K(v) channels, and Na+-K+-ATPase pump activation.

Endothelial and potassium channel dependent modulation of noradrenergic vasoconstriction in the pig radial artery

The localisation and function of noradrenergic perivascular innervation of the radial artery were examined in a porcine model. Through immunohistochemical techniques, we explored the possible existence of dopamine beta-hydroxylase and choline-acetyltransferase in the nerve fibres supplying the radial artery. Arterial rings suspended in organ baths were used to isometrically record tension in functional tests designed to determine the vasoconstriction response to electrical field stimulation (EFS) or exogenous noradrenaline. Morphological studies revealed the presence of noradrenergic, but not cholinergic, nerve fibres in the tunica adventitia and adventitia-media boundary of the artery wall. EFS-elicited frequency-dependent contractions (EF(50)=3.37+/-0.19 Hz and E(max)=87.7+/-3.8%; n=47) were abolished by tetrodotoxin. The contractile effect was markedly reduced by guanethidine, phentolamine and prazosin and slightly inhibited by rauwolscine, but unaltered by propranolol, atropine, bosentan or capsaicine. Endothelium removal increased EFS-evoked contractions but the addition of L-NOArg, ODQ or indomethacin had no effect. Pre-incubation with tetraethylammonium and 4-aminopyridine, but not glibenclamide, enhanced these neurogenic responses. SOD and apocynin reduced EFS-elicited responses at low frequencies. Exposure of the arterial rings to the same agents did not affect the noradrenaline concentration-response curves except for the alpha-adrenoceptor antagonists. These results led to the conclusions that neurogenic contractions in the pig radial artery are predominantly mediated by noradrenaline released from periarterial adrenergic nerves. This neurogenic vasoconstriction is modulated by a non-NO, non-prostanoid endothelium-dependent relaxing factor and by Ca(2+)-activated and voltage-dependent K(+) channels.