P-2u receptor-mediated release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor nitric oxide and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor from cerebrovascular endothelium in rats
Jp. You et al., P-2u receptor-mediated release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor nitric oxide and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor from cerebrovascular endothelium in rats, STROKE, 30(5), 1999, pp. 1125-1132
Background and Purpose-Stimulation of P-2u purinoceptors by UTP on endothel
ium dilates the rat middle cerebral artery (MCA) through the release of end
othelium-derived relaxing factor/nitric oxide (EDRF/NO) and an unknown rela
xing factor, The purpose of this study was to determine whether this unknow
n relaxing factor is endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF).
Methods-Rat MCAs were isolated, cannulated, pressurized, and luminally perf
used. UTP was added to the luminal perfusate to elicit dilations.
Results-Resting outside diameter of the MCAs in one study was 209+/-7 mu m
(n = 10). The MCAs showed concentration dependent dilations with UTP admini
stration. Inhibition of NO synthase with N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester
(L-NAME) (1 mu mol/L to 1 mmol/L) did not diminish the maximum response to
UTP but did shift the concentration-response curve to the right, Scavenging
NO with hemoglobin (1 or 10 mu mol/L) or inhibition of guanylate cyclase w
ith ODQ (1 or 10 mu mol/L) had effects on the UTP-mediated dilations simila
r to those of L-NAME. In the presence of L-NAME, dilations induced by 10 mu
mol/L UTP were accompanied by 13+/-2 mV (P<0.009) hyperpolarization of the
vascular smooth muscle membrane potential (-28+/-2 to -41+/-1 mV). Iberiot
oxin (100 nmol/L), blocker of the large-conductance calcium-activated K cha
nnels, sometimes blocked the dilation, but its effects were variable, Chary
bdotoxin (100 nmol/L), also a blocker of the large-conductance calcium-acti
vated K channels, abolished the L-NAME-insensitive component of the dilatio
n to UTP.
Conclusions-Stimulation of P-2u purinoceptors on the endothelium of the rat
MCA released EDHF, in addition to EDRF/NO, and dilated the rat MCA by open
ing an atypical calcium-activated K channel.