Triphasic vascular responses to bradykinin in the mesenteric resistance artery of the rat

Sympathetic and Sensory-Motor Nerves in Peripheral Small Arteries

Small arteries, which play important roles in controlling blood flow, blood pressure, and capillary pressure, are under nervous influence. Their innervation is predominantly sympathetic and sensory motor in nature, and while some arteries are densely innervated, others are only sparsely so. Innervation of small arteries is a key mechanism in regulating vascular resistance. In the second half of the previous century, the physiology and pharmacology of this innervation were very actively investigated. In the past 10-20 yr, the activity in this field was more limited. With this review we highlight what has been learned during recent years with respect to development of small arteries and their innervation, some aspects of excitation-release coupling, interaction between sympathetic and sensory-motor nerves, cross talk between endothelium and vascular nerves, and some aspects of their role in vascular inflammation and hypertension. We also highlight what remains to be investigated to further increase our understanding of this fundamental aspect of vascular physiology.

Pharmacological Targeting of KCa Channels to Improve Endothelial Function in the Spontaneously Hypertensive Rat

Systemic hypertension is a major risk factor for the development of cardiovascular disease and is often associated with endothelial dysfunction. KCa2.3 and KCa3.1 channels are expressed in the vascular endothelium and contribute to stimulus-evoked vasodilation. We hypothesized that acute treatment with SKA-31, a selective activator of KCa2.x and KCa3.1 channels, would improve endothelium-dependent vasodilation and transiently lower mean arterial pressure (MAP) in male, spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs). Isolated vascular preparations exhibited impaired vasodilation in response to bradykinin (i.e., endothelial dysfunction) compared with Wistar controls, which was associated with decreased bradykinin receptor expression in mesenteric arteries. In contrast, similar levels of endothelial KCa channel expression were observed, and SKA-31 evoked vasodilation was comparable in vascular preparations from both strains. Addition of a low concentration of SKA-31 (i.e., 0.2–0.3 μM) failed to augment bradykinin-induced vasodilation in arteries from SHRs. However, responses to acetylcholine were enhanced. Surprisingly, acute bolus administration of SKA-31 in vivo (30 mg/kg, i.p. injection) modestly elevated MAP compared with vehicle injection. In summary, pharmacological targeting of endothelial KCa channels in SHRs did not readily reverse endothelial dysfunction in situ, or lower MAP in vivo. SHRs thus appear to be less responsive to endothelial KCa channel activators, which may be related to their vascular pathology.

Vanilloid receptors mediate adrenergic nerve- and CGRP-containing nerve-dependent vasodilation induced by nicotine in rat mesenteric resistance arteries

Previous studies showed that nicotine induces adrenergic nerve-dependent vasodilation that is mediated by endogenous calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) released from CGRP-containing (CGRPergic) nerves. The mechanisms underlying the nicotine-induced vasodilation were further studied. Rat mesenteric vascular beds without endothelium were contracted by perfusion with Krebs solution containing methoxamine, and the perfusion pressure was measured with a pressure transducer. Perfusion of nicotine (1-100 microm) for 1 min caused concentration-dependent vasodilation. Capsazepine (vanilloid receptor-1 antagonist; 1-10 microm) and ruthenium red (inhibitor of vanilloid response; 1-30 microm) concentration-dependently inhibited the nicotine-induced vasodilation without affecting the vasodilator response to exogenous CGRP. Nicotine-induced vasodilation was not inhibited by treatment with 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanine (DOPA) receptor antagonist (l-DOPA cyclohexyl ester; 0.001-10 microm), dopamine D1 receptor-selective antagonist (SCH23390; 1-10 microm), dopamine D2 receptor antagonist (haloperidol; 0.1-0.5 microm), ATP P2x receptor-desensitizing agonist (alpha,beta-methylene ATP; 1-10 microm), adenosine A2 receptor antagonist (8(p-sulfophenyl)theophylline; 10-50 microm) or neuropeptide Y (NPY)-Y1 receptor antagonist (BIBP3226; 0.1-0.5 microm). Immunohistochemical staining of the mesenteric artery showed dense innervation of CGRP- and vanilloid receptor-1-positive nerves, with both immunostainings appearing in the same neuron. The mesenteric artery was also densely innervated by NPY-positive nerves. Double immunostainings showed that both NPY and CGRP immunoreactivities appeared in the same neuron of the artery. These results suggest that nicotine acts on presynaptic nicotinic receptors to release adrenergic neurotransmitter(s) or related substance(s), which then stimulate vanilloid receptor-1 on CGRPergic nerves, resulting in CGRP release and vasodilation.

Different Prostanoids Are Involved in Bradykinin-Induced Endothelium-Dependent and -Independent Vasoconstriction in Rat Mesenteric Resistance Arteries

Mechanisms underlying bradykinin-induced vasoconstriction were investigated in rat perfused mesenteric vascular beds with active tone. In preparations with intact endothelium, bolus injections of bradykinin (1 to 1,000 pmol) dose-dependently produced three-phase vascular effects, which consisted of a first-phase vasodilation followed by a second-phase vasoconstriction and a subsequent third-phase vasodilation; these effects were abolished by FR172357 (bradykinin B(2)-receptor antagonist), but not by des-Arg(9)-[Leu(8)]-bradykinin (bradykinin B(1)-receptor antagonist). In preparations with intact endothelium, indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor), seratrodast (thromboxane A(2) (TXA(2))-receptor antagonist), ONO-3708 (TXA(2)/prostaglandin H(2) (PGH(2))-receptor antagonist) or ozagrel (TXA(2) synthesis inhibitor) markedly inhibited the bradykinin-induced vasoconstriction. In preparations without endothelium, the bradykinin-induced vasoconstriction was abolished by indomethacin and ONO-3708, while seratrodast and ozagrel had no effect. These results suggest that the endothelium-dependent vasoconstriction of bradykinin is mainly mediated by TXA(2) and that prostanoids other than TXA(2), probably PGH(2), in mesenteric vascular smooth muscle are responsible for bradykinin-induced endothelium-independent vasoconstriction.