Ap. Cockell et L. Poston, 17-BETA-ESTRADIOL STIMULATES FLOW-INDUCED VASODILATATION IN ISOLATED SMALL MESENTERIC-ARTERIES FROM PREPUBERTAL FEMALE RATS, American journal of obstetrics and gynecology, 177(6), 1997, pp. 1432-1438
OBJECTIVE: Flow-induced vasodilatation may contribute to lowering of p
eripheral resistance to pregnancy. This study investigated modulation
of flow responses by 17 beta-estradiol. STUDY DESIGN: Small mesenteric
arteries from prepubertal female Wistar rats were pretreated for 3 ho
urs with 17 beta-estradiol (10(-7) mol/L) with 17 alpha-estradiol (10(
-7) mol/L) or vehicle (0.1% dimethylsulfoxide). Responses to intralumi
nal flow were evaluated with use of a pressure arteriograph. RESULTS:
After pretreatment with 17 beta-estradiol arteries relaxed to flow, wh
ereas those treated with vehicle or 17 alpha-estradiol did not (percen
t change in diameter at maximum flow rate after 17 beta-estradiol 38.7
% +/- 5.7%, n = 10, vs 1.1% +/- 4.3%, n = 10 after vehicle; p < 0.01).
Endothelium removal or pretreatment with either a nitric oxide syntha
se inhibitor or a novel soluble guanylyl cyclase inhibitor diminished
the response to 17 beta-estradiol. CONCLUSION: 17 beta-Estradiol stimu
lated nitric oxide-mediated flow-induced relaxation. Through this path
way 17 beta-estradiol could play an important role in the control of v
ascular tone.