Elena Sanz

Relaxation by urocortin of human saphenous veins

Urocortin, an endogenous peptide structurally related to corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF), has potent cardiovascular effects, suggesting that it may be of significance in cardiovascular regulation. The objective of this study was to analyse the effects of urocortin and its action mechanisms on human blood vessels. To this, 3 mm long segments from human saphenous veins were prepared for isometric tension recording in an organ bath. In the segments at basal resting tone, urocortin did not produce any effect, but in the segments precontracted with endothelin‐1 (1 – 10 nM), urocortin (1 pM – 10 nM) produced concentration‐dependent relaxation. This relaxation was not modified by the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase NG‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME, 100 μM), but it was potentiated by the cyclo‐oxygenase inhibitor meclofenamate (10 μM) and it was reduced by the inhibitors of high‐conductance Ca2+‐dependent potassium channels tetraethylammonium (TEA, 10 mM) and charybdotoxin (100 nM). These results indicate that human saphenous veins are very sensitive to urocortin, which produces vascular relaxation by a mechanism independent of nitric oxide and dependent of high‐conductance Ca2+‐dependent potassium channels, and that it may be opposed by the release of vasoconstrictor prostanoids. Therefore, urocortin may be of significance for regulation of the venous circulation in humans.

Mechanisms of relaxation by urocortin in renal arteries from male and female rats

Urocortin is a peptide recently identified, which is structurally related to the corticotropin‐releasing factor (CRF). To analyze the mechanisms that could be involved in its effect on renal arteries from male and female rats, the response to urocortin was studied in isolated segments, 2 mm long, of renal arteries from male and female rats. In renal artery segments precontracted with endothelin‐1 (1 nM), urocortin (1 pM–10 nM) produced concentration‐dependent relaxation, which was similar in the arteries from male and female rats. This relaxation was reduced by the antagonists of urocortin receptors astressin (1 μM) and α‐helical CRF(9–41) (1 μM) in arteries from both male and female rats. In renal arteries from female rats, the relaxation to urocortin was reduced by the inhibitor of adenyl cyclase SQ22536 (300 μM), by 8‐bromo‐cyclic‐ADP‐ribose (cADPR; 30 μM), an antagonist of the endogenous activator of sarcoplasmic Ca2+ channel cADPR and by ryanodine (1 μM), which produces depletion of sarcoplasmic Ca2+. In renal arteries from male rats, the relaxation to urocortin was increased by ryanodine, and was not modified by SQ22536 or 8‐bromo‐cADPR. These results suggest that the mechanisms involved in the relaxation to urocortin in renal arteries differ between female and male rats. In female rats, this relaxation may be mediated by the production of cyclic AMP (cAMP), synthesis of cADPR and release of sarcoplasmic Ca2+, whereas in male rats it is not mediated by cAMP.

Coronary reactivity to endothelin-1 during partial ischemia and reperfusion in anesthetized goats. Role of nitric oxide and prostanoids

To examine the coronary reactivity to endothelin-1 and its interaction with nitric oxide or prostanoids during partial coronary ischemia and reperfusion, left circumflex coronary artery flow was electromagnetically measured, and partial occlusion of this artery was induced for 60 min, followed by reperfusion in anesthetized goats (eight non-treated, six treated with N(w)-nitro-L-arginine methyl esther (L-NAME) and five treated with meclofenamate). During partial occlusion, coronary vascular conductance was reduced by 24-37% (P<0.01), and the coronary vasodilatation in response to acetylcholine (3-100 ng) and sodium nitroprusside (1-10 microg) was much decreased in every case; the vasoconstriction in response to endothelin-1 (1-10 microg) was depressed in non-treated animals, and this depression was reversed by L-NAME and was accentuated by meclofenamate. At 30 min of reperfusion coronary vascular conductance remained decreased by 22-27% (P<0.01), and the vasodilatation in response to acetylcholine (3-100 ng) and sodium nitroprusside (1-10 microg), as well as the vasoconstriction with endothelin-1 (1-10 microg), were as in the control and comparable in the three groups of animals. These results suggest: (a) that during ischemia, the coronary vasodilator reserve is greatly reduced, and the vasoconstriction with endothelin-1 is blunted, with preservation of the modulatory role of nitric oxide and involvement of vasoconstrictor prostanoids in this vasoconstriction, and (2) that during reperfusion, the coronary vasodilator reserve and the coronary reactivity to acetylcholine and endothelin-1 recover, but the modulatory role of nitric oxide in this reactivity may be attenuated.

Effects of diabetes on the vascular response to nitric oxide and constrictor prostanoids: gender and regional differences

To analyze the effects of diabetes mellitus on the vascular responsiveness to nitric oxide and thromboxane receptor stimulation, 2 mm long segments of basilar, coronary, renal and tail arteries from male and female, control (normoglycemic) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats, were prepared for isometric tension recording. In the segments at basal resting tension, the thromboxane analog U46619 (10(-9)-10(-5) M) produced concentration-dependent contraction, which was similar in arteries from male and female rats, and was reduced by diabetes in coronary arteries from male and in tail arteries from female rats. In the vascular segments precontracted with endothelin-1 (10(-9) M), acetylcholine (10(-9)-3 x 10(-5) M) produced concentration-dependent relaxation which was similar in all arteries from normoglycemic male and female rats, and was increased by diabetes in tail arteries from female, but not in those from male rats. In precontracted segments the nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside (10(-10)-10(-5) M) also produced concentration-dependent relaxation, which was higher in basilar arteries from normoglycemic females compared with males, and was increased by diabetes in tail arteries from female but not from male rats. These results suggest that diabetes may increase the relaxation to nitric oxide in tail arteries, and may reduce the contraction to thromboxane receptor activation in coronary and tail arteries in a gender-dependent way. These changes in vascular reactivity may be adaptative to the vascular alterations produced by diabetes.

Relaxation by urocortin of rat renal arteries: effects of diabetes in males and females

OBJECTIVE Urocortin is a peptide structurally related to corticotropin releasing factor (CRF), and the present study was performed to examine the effects of diabetes mellitus on the relaxation by urocortin of renal arteries from males and females. METHODS The response to urocortin was studied in isolated segments, 2 mm long, from renal arteries, from male and female, control (normoglycemic) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. RESULTS In the renal arterial segments precontracted with endothelin-1, urocortin produced concentration-dependent relaxation, that was not different between males and females. Diabetes reduced the relaxation in renal arteries from females but not in those from males. The potassium channel blocker charybdotoxin (10(-7) M) reduced the relaxation to urocortin of renal arteries from normoglycemic males and females. The cyclooxygenase inhibitor meclofenamate did not modify the relaxation to urocortin in renal arteries from normoglycemic males or females. The inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis N(W)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10(-4) M) reduced the relaxation to urocortin in renal arteries from normoglycemic females, but not in renal arteries from normoglycemic males. Neither charybdotoxin, L-NAME or meclofenamate modified the relaxation to urocortin of renal arteries from diabetic females. CONCLUSION These results suggest that urocortin produces a marked vasodilation of renal arteries, which may be mediated by nitric oxide in females and by activation of potassium channels in both genders, and is reduced by diabetes in renal arteries from females.

Urocortin protects coronary endothelial function during ischemia-reperfusion: a brief communication.

Urocortin is a vasodilator peptide related to corticotrophin-releasing factor, which may protect myocardium during coronary ischemia-reperfusion. To study whether urocortin also protects coronary endothelial function during ischemia-reperfusion, hearts from Sprague-Dawley rats were perfused at constant flow and then exposed to 15 mins ischemia followed by 15 mins reperfusion. In one series of experiments, we found that the coronary relaxation to urocortin (10–11 to 10–8 M) was reduced by ischemia-reperfusion (51 ± 4% vs. 79 ± 4% of the active tone, for the 10–10 Mdose). In other series of experiments, we observed that ischemia-reperfusion reduced the coronary relaxation to a test dose of acetylcholine (10–6 M) (25 ± 2% vs. 54 ± 9% of active tone), without modifying the relaxation to sodium nitroprusside (10–6 M). Treatment with a low threshold concentration of urocortin (10–11 M), administered before ischemia and during reperfusion, partly improved the coronary relaxation to acetylcholine (36 ± 3% of active tone). These results suggest that ischemia-reperfusion impairs the coronary vasodilation to urocortin and produces endothelial dysfunction and that this endothelial dysfunction may be improved by urocortin.

Coronary effects of vasopressin during partial ischemia and reperfusion in anesthetized goats. Role of nitric oxide and prostanoids.

To examine the coronary effects of arginine-vasopressin and its interaction with nitric oxide and prostanoids during partial ischemia and reperfusion, left circumflex coronary artery flow was electromagnetically measured and partial occlusion of this artery was induced for 60 min, followed by reperfusion in anesthetized goats (seven non-treated, six treated with N(W)-nitro-L-arginine methyl esther (L-NAME) and five with meclofenamate). During partial coronary occlusion, coronary vascular conductance decreased by 20-31% (P<0.01), and the coronary vasodilatation in response to acetylcholine (3-100 ng) and sodium nitroprusside (1-10 microg) was much reduced in every case; the vasoconstriction in response to arginine-vasopressin (0.03-0.3 microg) was attenuated in non-treated animals; this attenuation was reversed by L-NAME and was accentuated by meclofenamate. At 30 min of reperfusion, coronary vascular conductance remained decreased by 11-25% (P<0.05 or P<0.01), and the vasodilatation in response to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside as well as the vasoconstriction with arginine-vasopressin was as in the control and comparable in the three groups of animals. These results suggest: (1) that, during ischemia, the coronary vasodilator reserve is greatly reduced and the vasoconstriction with arginine-vasopressin is attenuated, with preservation of the modulatory role of nitric oxide and probable involvement of vasoconstrictor prostanoids in this vasoconstriction; and (2) that, during reperfusion, the coronary vasodilator reserve and the coronary reactivity to acetylcholine and arginine-vasopressin recover, but the modulatory role of nitric oxide in this reactivity may be attenuated.

Vascular reactivity to vasopressin during diabetes: gender and regional differences

The isometric response to vasopressin of 2-mm-long segments of basilar, coronary, renal and tail arteries from male and female, control (normoglycemic) and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats was studied. Vasopressin (10(-12)-3 x 10(-8) M) produced arterial concentration-dependent contraction, with a lower potency in coronary arteries from female than from male rats, and was similar for both genders in basilar, renal and tail arteries. This contraction was reduced by diabetes in basilar and coronary arteries, increased in renal arteries, and not modified in tail arteries, in both genders. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthesis with N(W)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10(-4) M) increased the contraction to vasopressin in coronary arteries from control female and diabetic female rats; as well as in renal arteries from control male and control female rats, but not in any other experimental group. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase with meclofenamate (10(-5) M) reduced the contraction to vasopressin in basilar arteries from diabetic female rats and in renal arteries from diabetic male rats, but not in any other experimental group. These results suggest that the response to vasopressin (a) has lower potency in female coronary arteries due to higher nitric oxide production; (b) is reduced by diabetes in basilar and coronary arteries from both genders, by mechanisms independent of nitric oxide and prostanoids; and (c) is increased by diabetes in renal arteries due to reduced production of nitric oxide in females, and to both reduced production of nitric oxide and increased production of prostanoids in males. Therefore, the effects of diabetes on vascular reactivity to vasopressin may differ between vascular beds, and the mechanisms underlay these effects may be distinct between genders.

Relaxation of rat arteries by urocortin: effects of gender and diabetes.

Urocortin is a peptide recently identified, structurally related to corticotropin releasing factor (CRF). We have compared the effects of urocortin in different vascular beds, and have investigated whether there are gender differences in these effects or whether they are altered by diabetes. We have studied the response of isolated segments (2‐mm long) from basilar, coronary and tail arteries to urocortin. The segments were obtained from male and female, normoglycaemic and strepto‐zotocin‐induced diabetic rats. In the arterial segments precontracted with endothelin‐1, urocortin produced concentration‐dependent relaxation, and the order of sensitivity was: tail > basilar > coronary. This relaxation was similar in arteries from male and female, diabetic and normoglycaemic rats. In tail arteries from normoglycaemic male rats, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor meclofenamate (10−5M) increased the relaxation to urocortin, and the inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis Nω‐nitro‐L‐arginine methyl ester (L‐NAME, 10−4M) or the potassium‐channel‐blocker charybdotoxin (10−7M) did not modify it. In tail arteries from normoglycaemic female rats meclofenamate, charybdotoxin or L‐NAME did not modify the relaxation to urocortin. These results suggested that urocortin produced vasodilation which showed regional differences between basilar, coronary and tail arteries, but was not affected by diabetes. The mechanisms underlying this relaxation in tail arteries might differ between males and females.

Role of K+ channels in the coronary and renal vascular reactivity to vasopressin in diabetic rats

To study the role of K(+) channels in the coronary and renal vascular response to vasopressin during diabetes mellitus, and whether there are gender differences in this role, we have examined the isometric response to this peptide of 2-mm-long arterial segments from male and female, normoglycemic and streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. Vasopressin (10(-12)-3 x 10(-8) M) produced arterial concentration-dependent contraction, and during normoglycemia, this contraction was lower in coronary arteries from female than from male rats, and it was similar in renal arteries from both genders. This contraction was reduced by diabetes in coronary arteries, and increased in renal arteries, from both genders. The blocker of Ca(2+)-sensitive K(+) channels charybdotoxin (10(-7) M) increased the contraction to vasopressin in coronary arteries of diabetic females, but not in the other cases (diabetic males and normoglycemic females or males). This blocker also increased the contraction to vasopressin in renal arteries from diabetic, but not in those from normoglycemic female rats, and also increased it in a higher magnitude in arteries from diabetic than in those from normoglycemic male rats. The blocker of ATP-sensitive K(+) channels glybenclamide (10(-5) M) or the scavenger of superoxide radicals superoxide dismutase (100 U/ml) did not modify the contraction to vasopressin in any experimental group. These results suggest that diabetes activates the modulatory role of K(+) channels in the coronary and renal vasoconstriction to vasopressin, but it alters in a different way the vasoconstriction to vasopressin in these two types of arteries. The effects of diabetes on this vasoconstriction are not related to increased release of superoxide radicals.