15-hydroxy-11-alpha-9-alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5-13-dienoic-acid and azepexole

The thoracic aorta was taken from nephrotic rats on the 40th day after a single i.v. injection of daunomycin (10 mg/kg). In the endothelium-intact aorta, the contractions induced by norepinephrine or B-HT 933, an alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, were significantly greater in nephrotic rats than in normal animals. However, such a difference was not observed in the KCl- or U46619-induced contractions. The difference in norepinephrine-induced contraction between nephrotic and normal preparations was enhanced by zaprinast, a cyclic GMP phosphodiesterase inhibitor. The contractions elicited by norepinephrine and B-HT 933 were potentiated by either removal of the endothelium or pretreatment with methylene blue, a guanylate cyclase inhibitor. The difference in the contractile response to these agonists between nephrotic and normal preparations was eliminated completely by either treatment. The cyclic GMP level in the endothelium-intact aorta in the presence of zaprinast was significantly lower in nephrotic rats than in normal animals. In the presence of zaprinast, norepinephrine, but not B-HT 933, caused an increase in the cyclic GMP level, which was abolished completely by pretreatment with prazosin, but not by yohimbine. These results suggest that the augmented contractile response to norepinephrine observed in nephrotic aorta may be due to the decrease in the stimulated release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor from the endothelial cells via the stimulation of endothelial alpha-1 adrenoceptors, whereas the augmented response to B-HT 933 may be due, at least in part, to the decrease in spontaneously released endothelium-derived relaxing factor.

Topics: 15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Animals; Azepines; Cyclic GMP; Endothelium, Vascular; Male; Muscle Contraction; Nephrosis; Nitric Oxide; Norepinephrine; Potassium Chloride; Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; Rats; Rats, Sprague-Dawley; Thromboxane A2

The influence of nisoldipine, a dihydropyridine calcium entry antagonist, on vascular resistance and vasoconstrictor responses was investigated in the feline pulmonary vascular bed under conditions of controlled blood flow. The calcium channel blocking agent caused a small reduction in lobar vascular resistance and blocked pulmonary vasoconstrictor responses to BAY K 8644, an agent which promotes calcium entry. The calcium entry blocking agent also reduced pulmonary vasoconstrictor responses to methoxamine and to BHT 933, alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists, and to U 46619, an agent which mimics the actions of thromboxane A2. Although there was a marked difference in vasoconstrictor potency in the pulmonary vascular bed, responses to the thromboxane mimic and to the alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists were reduced by approximately the same extent. The increases in systemic arterial pressure in response to BAY K 8644, methoxamine, and BHT 933 were also reduced by nisoldipine, and the calcium entry antagonist reduced systemic arterial pressure and systemic vascular resistance. The results of the present study suggest that an extracellular source of calcium is required for the maintenance of vascular tone and for the expression of vasoconstrictor responses, resulting from activation of alpha 1- and postjunctional alpha 2-adrenoceptors and thromboxane receptors in the feline pulmonary vascular bed.

Topics: 15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; Adrenergic alpha-Agonists; Animals; Azepines; Calcium Channel Blockers; Cats; Female; Male; Methoxamine; Nifedipine; Nisoldipine; Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; Pulmonary Circulation; Vasoconstriction; Vasodilator Agents

The influence of nisoldipine, a calcium entry antagonist, on vascular resistance and vasoconstrictor responses was investigated in the anesthetized cat. Nisoldipine, a dihydropyridine calcium entry blocking agent, decreased total peripheral resistance and dilated the intestinal vascular bed. This calcium antagonist blocked intestinal vasoconstrictor responses to BAY K 8644, a nifedipine analogue, which promotes calcium entry. The calcium entry antagonist decreased intestinal vasoconstrictor responses to sympathetic nerve stimulation, norepinephrine, and tyramine. Nisoldipine also reduced intestinal vasoconstrictor responses to potassium chloride and agonists that elicit vasoconstriction by specific receptor-mediated actions including stimulation of alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors. The vasodilator and inhibitory effects of nisoldipine on vasoconstrictor responses were reversible, and responses returned to control value over a 60-min period. The present data suggest that an extracellular source of calcium is required for maintenance of tone and for vasoconstriction induced by neuronally released or exogenous norepinephrine as well as a diverse group of agents that act through specific receptor mechanisms or depolarize vascular smooth muscle. The present results suggest that similar sources of calcium are required for vasoconstriction elicited by alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptor agonists in the feline intestinal vascular bed.

Topics: 15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester; Angiotensin II; Animals; Azepines; Blood Pressure; Brimonidine Tartrate; Cardiac Output; Cats; Dinoprost; Dioxanes; Electric Stimulation; Female; Idazoxan; Male; Methoxamine; Nifedipine; Nisoldipine; Norepinephrine; Phenylephrine; Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; Prostaglandins F; Quinoxalines; Splanchnic Circulation; Sulfonamides; Sympathetic Nervous System; Tyramine; Vascular Resistance; Vasoconstriction

Alpha-1 and alpha-2 adrenoceptor-mediated vasoconstriction was studied in the in situ, autoperfused pulmonary circulation of the open-chest anesthetized dog under conditions of normal and elevated pulmonary vascular tone. Under conditions of normal pulmonary vascular tone (10 +/- 1 mm Hg), methoxamine, a selective alpha-1 adrenoceptor agonist, and B-HT 933, a selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor agonist, elicited maximal increases in lobar perfusion pressure of 5 and 2 mm Hg above resting pulmonary tone, respectively. When pulmonary vascular tone was elevated progressively with the thromboxane mimetic, U-46619, serotonin or PGF2 alpha, alpha-1 adrenoceptor-mediated pulmonary vasoconstrictor responses to methoxamine were unaffected, whereas alpha-2 adrenoceptor-mediated pulmonary pressor responses to B-HT 933 were enhanced. Overall the response to B-HT 933 was enhanced 4-fold when pulmonary perfusion pressure was elevated to 19.8 +/- 0.8 mm Hg with U-46619 and almost 5-fold when elevated to 27.0 +/- 1.2 mm Hg. Pulmonary vasoconstrictor responses to angiotensin II were unaffected by elevated pulmonary vascular tone. Enhanced responsiveness of B-HT 933 to elevated pulmonary vascular tone was antagonized by the selective alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist, rauwolscine (100 micrograms/kg i.v.), and unaffected by the selective alpha-1 adrenoceptor antagonist, prazosin (100 micrograms/kg i.v.). When canine intralobar pulmonary veins were studied in vitro they contracted to B-HT 933 whereas intralobar pulmonary arteries did not respond. These data indicate that alpha-2 adrenoceptor responsiveness is enhanced markedly and selectively under conditions in which pulmonary vascular tone is elevated.

Topics: 15-Hydroxy-11 alpha,9 alpha-(epoxymethano)prosta-5,13-dienoic Acid; Animals; Azepines; Blood Pressure; Dinoprost; Dogs; Female; Lung; Male; Methoxamine; Prazosin; Prostaglandin Endoperoxides, Synthetic; Prostaglandins F; Receptors, Adrenergic, alpha; Serotonin; Vasoconstriction; Yohimbine