Nitric oxide-mediated arteriolar dilation after endothelial deformation.

Previously, we frequently observed dilation of arterioles after agonist-induced constrictions. We hypothesized that deformation of the endothelium during decreases in diameter of isolated arterioles elicits the release of nitric oxide (NO). In isolated arterioles of rat mesentery, phenylephrine (PE, 10(-7) M)-, U-46619 (10(-7) M)-, and KCl (50 mM)-induced constrictions were followed by potent dilations. Inhibition of NO synthase with N(omega)-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 2 x 10(-4) M) or removal of the endothelium significantly enhanced constriction and reduced the postconstriction dilation. In the presence of 80 mmHg of intraluminal pressure, an increase in extraluminal pressure (P(e)) to 75 mmHg for 20 s and 1 and 2 min decreased vessel diameter. After release of P(e), arterioles dilated as a function of the duration of diameter reduction by P(e). Removal of the endothelium or administration of L-NNA significantly diminished the post-P(e) dilations. In cultured mesenteric arteriolar endothelial cells (EC), PE, U-46619, or KCl did not increase, whereas ACh did increase, the production of NO, as measured by a fluorometric assay for nitrite. Furthermore, when EC, cultured on a stretched silicone membrane, were subjected to deformation by shortening the membrane to 50% of its original length, NO release increased significantly. Based on all of the above, we propose that deformation of EC per se elicits release of NO, a mechanism that modulates arteriolar constriction.

Potential role of eNOS in the therapeutic control of myocardial oxygen consumption by ACE inhibitors and amlodipine.

OBJECTIVES: Our aim was to investigate the potential therapeutic role of endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) in the modulation of cardiac O(2) consumption induced by the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor ramiprilat and amlodipine. METHODS: Three different groups of mice were used; wild type, wild type in the presence of N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10(-4) mol/l) or genetically altered mice lacking the eNOS gene (eNOS -/-). Myocardial O(2) consumption was measured using a Clark-type O(2) electrode in an air-tight stirred bath. Concentration-response curves to ramiprilat (RAM), amlodipine (AMLO), diltiazem (DIL), carbachol (CCL), substance P (SP) and S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP) were performed. The rate of decrease in O(2) concentration was expressed as a percentage of the baseline. RESULTS: Baseline O(2) consumption was not different between the three groups of mice. In tissues from wild type mice, RAM (10(-5) mol/l), AMLO (10(-5) mol/l), DIL (10(-4) mol/l), CCL (10(-4) mol/l), SP (10(-7) mol/l) and SNAP (10(-4) mol/l) reduced myocardial O(2) consumption by -32+/-4, -27+/-10, -20+/-6, -25+/-2, -22+/-4 and -42+/-4%, respectively. The responses to RAM, AMLO, CCL and SP were absent in tissues taken from eNOS -/- mice (-7.1+/-4.3, -5.0+/-6.0, -5.2+/-5.1 and -0.4+/-0.2%, respectively). In addition, L-NAME significantly (P<0.05) inhibited the reduction in O(2) consumption induced by RAM (-9.8+/-4.4%), AMLO (-1.0+/-6.0%), CCL (-8.8+/-3.7%) and SP (-6.6+/-4.9%) in cardiac tissues from wild type mice. In contrast, NO-independent responses to the calcium channel antagonist, DIL, and responses to the NO donor, SNAP, were not affected in cardiac tissues taken from eNOS -/- (DIL: -20+/-4%; SNAP: -46+/-6%) or L-NAME-treated (DIL: -17+/-2%; SNAP: -33+/-5%) mice. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that endogenous endothelial NO synthase derived NO serves an important role in the regulation of myocardial O(2) consumption. This action may contribute to the therapeutic action of ACE inhibitors and amlodipine.

Impaired nitric oxide modulation of myocardial oxygen consumption in genetically cardiomyopathic hamsters.

We investigated the role of kinin and nitric oxide (NO) in the modulation of cardiac O(2)consumption in Syrian hamsters with overt heart failure (HF) and age-matched normal hamsters. Using echocardiography, the hamsters with heart failure had reduced ejection fraction [31(+/-8) v 76(+/-5)%] and LV dilation [4.9(+/-0. 2) v 5.7(+/-0.3) mm, both P<0.05 from normal]. O(2)consumption in the left ventricular free wall was measured using a Clark-type O(2)electrode in an air-tight chamber, containing Krebs solution buffered with Hepes (37 degrees C, pH 7.4). Concentration response curves to bradykinin (BK), ramiprilat (RAM), amlodipine (AMLO) and the NO donor, S -nitroso- N -acetyl-penicillamine (SNAP) were performed. Basal myocardial O(2)consumption was lower in the HF group compared to normal [316(+/-21) v 404(+/-36) nmol O(2)/min/g, respectively, P<0.05]. In the hearts from normal hamsters BK (10(-4)mol/l), RAM (10(-4)mol/l), and AMLO (10(-5)mol/l) all significantly reduced myocardial O(2)consumption by 42(+/-6)%, 29(+/-7)% and 27(+/-5)% respectively. This reduction was attenuated in the presence of N -nitro- l -arginine methyl ester (l -NAME) [BK: 3.3(+/-1.5)%, RAM: 3.3(+/-1.2)%, AMLO: 2.3(+/-1.2)%, P<0.05]. Interestingly in the hearts from HF group, BK, RAM and AMLO caused a significantly smaller reduction in myocardial O(2)consumption [10(+/-2)%, 2.5(+/-1.3)%, 6.3(+/-2.3)%, P<0.05]. In contrast, the NO donor SNAP reduced myocardial O(2)consumption in both groups and all those responses were not affected by l -NAME. These data indicate that endogenous NO production through the kinin-dependent mechanism is impaired at end-stage heart failure. The loss of kinin and NO control of mitochondrial respiration may contribute to the pathogenesis of heart failure.

Role of nitric oxide in the control of cardiac oxygen consumption in B(2)-kinin receptor knockout mice.

The aim of this study was to determine whether bradykinin, the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor ramiprilat, and the calcium-channel antagonist amlodipine reduce myocardial oxygen consumption (MV(O2)) via a B(2)-kinin receptor/nitric oxide-dependent mechanism. Left ventricular free wall and septum were isolated from normal and B(2)-kinin receptor knockout (B(2) -/-) mice. Myocardial tissue oxygen consumption was measured in an airtight chamber with a Clark-type oxygen electrode. Baseline MV(O2) was not significantly different between normal (239+/-13 nmol of O(2). min(-1). g(-1)) and B(2) -/- (263+/-24 nmol of O(2). min(-1). g(-1)) mice. S-nitroso-N-acetyl-penicillamine (10(-7) to 10(-4) mol/L) reduced oxygen consumption in a concentration-dependent manner in both normal (maximum, 36+/-3%) and B(2) -/- mice (28+/-3%). This was also true for the endothelium-dependent vasodilator substance P (10(-10) to 10(-7) mol/L; 22+/-7% in normal mice and 20+/-4% in B(2) -/- mice). Bradykinin (10(-7) to 10(-4) mol/L), ramiprilat (10(-7) to 10(-4) mol/L), and amlodipine (10(-7) to 10(-5) mol/L) all caused concentration-dependent decreases in MV(O2)in normal mice. At the highest concentration, tissue O(2) consumption was decreased by 18+/-3%, 20+/-5%, and 28+/-3%, respectively. The reduction in MV(O2) to all 3 drugs was attenuated in the presence of N(G)-nitro-L-arginine-methyl ester. However, in the B(2) -/- mice, bradykinin, ramiprilat, and amlodipine had virtually no effect on MV(O2). Therefore, nitric oxide, through a bradykinin-receptor-dependent mechanism, regulates cardiac oxygen consumption. This physiological mechanism is absent in B(2) -/- mice and may be evidence of an important therapeutic mechanism of action of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors and amlodipine.

C-peptide induces a concentration-dependent dilation of skeletal muscle arterioles only in presence of insulin.

In this study we tested the hypothesis that C-peptide alone or in conjunction with insulin may cause a dilation of skeletal muscle arterioles. First-order arterioles (88 microm) isolated from rat cremaster muscles were pressurized (65 mmHg), equilibrated in a Krebs bicarbonate-buffered solution (pH 7.4), gassed with 10% O2 (balance 5% CO2, 85% N2), and studied in a no-flow state. C-peptide administered at concentrations of 0.3, 1, 3, 10, 100, 300, and 1,000 ng/ml evoked arteriolar dilation that was not concentration dependent. In contrast, the administration of the four lower physiological concentrations of C-peptide to arterioles exposed to a nondilating concentration of insulin evoked a significant concentration-dependent increase in arteriolar diameter from 8.6 to 42.3% above control. The arteriolar dilation to C-peptide in the presence of insulin was completely inhibited by administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine (10(-4) M). Responses to ACh and adenosine were not enhanced when these drugs were administered in the presence of insulin. These results indicate that C-peptide has the capacity to evoke arteriolar dilation in skeletal muscle via a nitric oxide-mediated mechanism that appears to be enhanced by an interaction with insulin. Furthermore, the effects of insulin appear to be specific for C-peptide and are not the result of a general enhancement of endothelium-dependent or endothelium-independent dilation.

Inhibition of NO synthesis or endothelium removal reveals a vasoconstrictor effect of insulin on isolated arterioles.

In this study we tested the hypothesis that insulin may differentially affect isolated arterioles from red (RGM) and white gastrocnemius muscles (WGM) because of their differences in function and metabolic profile. We also determined whether the responses of these arterioles are endothelium dependent and mediated by either prostaglandins or nitric oxide (NO). Arterioles were isolated, pressurized to 85 mmHg, equilibrated in Krebs bicarbonate-buffered solution (pH 7.4) gassed with 10% O2 (5% CO2-85% N2), and studied in a no-flow state. Control diameters for first-order arterioles from RGM averaged 77 +/- 8 micrometers and from WGM averaged 77 +/- 5 micrometers. Cumulative dose-response curves to insulin (10 microU/ml, 100 microU/ml, 1 mU/ml, and 10 mU/ml) were obtained in arterioles before and after endothelium removal or administration of either indomethacin (Indo, 10(-5) M) or NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 10(-4) M). Insulin evoked concentration-dependent increases in control diameter of intact RGM and WGM arterioles of 6-26% and 9-28%, respectively. Indo was without any effect on insulin-induced dilation in RGM and WGM arterioles. Insulin-evoked dilation in both RGM and WGM arterioles was completely inhibited and converted to vasoconstriction by endothelium removal and administration of L-NNA. These results indicate that in endothelium-intact arterioles from RGM and WGM, insulin evokes an endothelium-dependent dilation that is equivalent and mediated by NO. In contrast, in the absence of a functional endothelium, insulin evokes arteriolar constriction. The finding that insulin can constrict arterioles, at physiological concentrations, suggests that insulin may play a more significant role in the regulation of vascular tone and total peripheral resistance than previously appreciated.

Depressed arteriolar responsiveness to norepinephrine in streptozotocin-induced diabetes in the rat.

We examined the contribution of prostaglandins to altered reactivity to norepinephrine in rat cremaster third order arterioles of streptozotocin (STZ) treated rats and age-matched controls. NE was applied topically to the cremaster muscle of pentobarbital (35 mg/kg) anesthetized rats before and during topical administration of indomethacin (IND: 10 micrograms/ml) four and eight weeks after i.v. injection with of 50 mg/kg STZ (STZ-4W; STZ-8W) or vehicle (C-4W; C-8W), and before and during topical administration of 5,8,11,14 eicosatetraynoic acid (ETYA; 20 micrograms/ml) in STZ-8W and C-8W. Plasma glucose was elevated significantly in STZ-treated rats. Blood pressures and resting arteriolar diameters did not differ. However, vasoconstrictor responses to NE were depressed in STZ-4W and to a greater degree in STZ-8W, IND normalized reactivity to the low doses of NE and partially restored reactivity to the higher doses. ETYA enhanced reactivity to all doses of NE to a greater extent than did IND. These data are consistent with a role for locally produced vasomodulatory arachidonic acid metabolites, including prostaglandins, in the decreased reactivity to NE in diabetic rat cremaster muscle arterioles.

Evidence for cGMP mediation of skeletal muscle arteriolar dilation to lactate.

In this study we tested the hypothesis that lactate, independent of changes in pH, can affect skeletal muscle blood flow through arteriolar dilation that may be mediated by guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate. Isolated, cannulated, and pressurized first-order rat cremaster skeletal muscle arterioles were studied in a chamber containing Krebs-bicarbonate buffer under no-flow conditions. At pH 7.4 and PO2 of 65 Torr, neutralized lactic acid (lactate) and pyruvic acid (pyruvate) caused arteriolar dilation over the 1-10 mM concentration range. This response to lactate was not altered by 10(-5) M indomethacin, 10(-4) M NG-nitro-L-arginine, or removal of the endothelium. However, responses to 1 and 3 mM pyruvate were significantly inhibited by 100% by endothelium removal, and the response to 10 mM pyruvate was inhibited by 71%. The relaxation of endothelium-denuded arterioles to lactate was inhibited by 10 microM methylene blue, 10 microM LY-83583, hypoxia (PO2 7-10 Torr), and diphenyliodonium, an inhibitor of superoxide-producing flavo-protein enzymes. In contrast, arteriolar dilation to the acidification of the Krebs buffer to pH 7.15, produced by increasing the CO2 concentration of the gas mixture from 5 to 10%, was not inhibited by methylene blue. These results are consistent with lactate-induced skeletal muscle arteriolar dilation being dependent on H2O2-mediated activation of vascular smooth muscle guanylate cyclase and independent of endothelium-derived mediators.

Dilation of isolated skeletal muscle arterioles by insulin is endothelium dependent and nitric oxide mediated.

Studies in humans and animals have shown that insulin administration increases cardiac output and both forearm and hindlimb blood flow. In this study we tested the hypothesis that insulin dilates skeletal muscle arterioles and that the dilation is endothelium dependent. First-order arterioles (77 microns) from rat cremaster muscle were isolated, pressurized (65 mmHg), equilibrated in a Krebs bicarbonate-buffered solution (pH 7.4) gassed with 10% O2 (5% CO2-85% N2), and studied in a no-flow state. Cumulative concentration-response curves to insulin (10 microU/ml-10 mU/ml) were obtained in intact arterioles before and after either endothelium removal or administration of indomethacin (Indo, 10(-5) M) or nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 10(-4) M). Insulin evoked concentration-dependent increases in control diameter of 13-61%, which were completely inhibited by endothelium removal or L-NNA. In contrast, Indo had no effect on insulin-evoked arteriolar dilation. These results indicate that dilation to insulin in skeletal muscle arterioles is endothelium dependent and mediated by nitric oxide.

Increases in oxygen tension evoke arteriolar constriction by inhibiting endothelial prostaglandin synthesis.

In vivo and in vitro studies concerned with the role of oxygen in the regulation of blood flow have primarily investigated the response of blood vessels to decreases in oxygen tension. In this study, we examined the response of isolated rat cremaster skeletal muscle arterioles to increases in oxygen tensions. First-order arterioles with an average diameter of 90 microns were cannulated and pressurized to 65 mm Hg and studied under constant pressure in a no-flow state. Arterioles were equilibrated in a Krebs bicarbonate-buffered solution (ph 7.4) gassed with 21% O2, 5% CO2, 74% N2. Changes in arteriolar diameters were continuously measured and recorded in response to increases in bath PO2 (20 to 660 mm Hg). Arterioles were studied before and after either the removal of the endothelium or the administration of indomethacin (IND, 10(-5) M), to inhibit prostaglandin synthesis. When the bath PO2 was increased from 20 to 150 mm Hg, arteriolar diameters decreased by 37%; they then decreased an additional 14% when bath PO2 was increased from 150 to 660 mm Hg. Removal of the endothelium or administration of IND completely eliminated the arteriolar constrictions in response to increases in PO2 from 20 to 150 mm Hg, and from 150 to 660 mm Hg. These observations suggest that rat cremaster arterioles constrict to increases in oxygen tension by reduction in the synthesis of endothelium-derived dilator prostaglandins.

L-arginine analogues blunt prostaglandin-related dilation of arterioles.

The effects of arginine analogues, inhibitors of endothelium-derived nitric oxide synthesis, on dilation of arterioles in response to various vasoactive substances were studied. At 65 mmHg intravascular pressure, isolated arterioles of rat cremaster muscle developed tone spontaneously and achieved control diameters similar to those observed in vivo (84.1 +/- 2.0 microns vs. passive diameter: 161.3 +/- 3.4 microns). Acetylcholine (ACh, 5 x 10(-8) M), sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 5 x 10(-8) M), arachidonic acid (AA, 10(-7) M), prostaglandin E2 (PGE2, 10(-9) M), and adenosine (ADO, 10(-6) M) were added to the Krebs bicarbonate buffer solution, suffusing the vessels. The peak vasodilator effects of all agents were studied before and after the administration of various doses of N omega-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA; 10(-5), 10(-4), and 10(-3) M), which significantly reduced, in a dose-dependent manner, the basal diameter of arterioles by 3.6, 15.2, and 18.9%, respectively. The lowest concentration of L-NNA significantly inhibited arteriolar dilations to ACh by approximately 26%. Higher concentrations of L-NNA and N omega-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA; 10(-4) M) caused a further significant reduction in the dilation to ACh (to approximately 47%) and also significantly reduced dilator responses to AA and PGE2. In the presence of the highest concentration of L-NNA (10(-3) M), dilation to SNP and ADO were also significantly reduced. Removal of endothelium abolished dilation to ACh and AA but did not alter that to SNP, PGE2, or ADO.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Characteristics and origin of myogenic response in isolated mesenteric arterioles.

Responses to changes in intravascular pressure of isolated rat mesenteric arterioles were investigated under no-flow conditions. First-, second-, third-, and fourth-generation arterioles were isolated and cannulated. Vascular diameters were measured with an image-shearing device and recorded. The arterioles (except for the first-generation vessels) developed spontaneous tone, corresponding to the step increases in intravascular pressure (from 20 to 160 mmHg, by 20-mmHg steps). For example, at 80 mmHg pressure the mean diameters of first-, second-, third-, and fourth-generation vessels were 286.9 +/- 5.0, 203.4 +/- 8.2, 92.5 +/- 4.6, and 35.6 +/- 4.8 microns, respectively; by use of a Ca(2+)-free solution containing ethylene glycol-bis(beta-aminoethyl ether)-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetic acid (1 mM) and sodium nitroprusside (SNP; 10(-4) M) the passive diameters of these vessels were 295.6 +/- 6.3, 238.4 +/- 11.7, 120.3 +/- 3.7, and 59.4 +/- 3.1 microns, respectively, demonstrating that the degree of pressure-induced constriction increased with the increasing order of generations (3, 14, 24, and 43%, respectively). The vasoactive function of endothelium and vascular smooth muscle was assessed by the responses of arterioles to acetylcholine (ACh; 10(-6) M) and SNP (10(-7) M) before and after removal of the endothelium with air. After removal of the endothelium, dilation to ACh was abolished while dilation to SNP was retained. Removal of the endothelium did not significantly alter the changes in the diameter of arterioles in response to step increases in intravascular pressure.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Role of endothelium-derived prostaglandins in hypoxia-elicited arteriolar dilation in rat skeletal muscle.

The aims of the present study were to determine the response of rat cremaster muscle first-order arterioles to hypoxia and the role of endothelium-derived prostaglandins in the response. Isolated arterioles were cannulated, pressurized to 65 mm Hg, and studied in a no-flow condition in a bath containing Krebs' bicarbonate solution, pH 7.4, equilibrated with 21% O2-5% CO2-74% N2 (PO2, 150 mm Hg) or 95% N2-5% CO2 (PO2, 15 mm Hg [hypoxia]). Responses to hypoxia and vasoactive substances were studied before and after removal of the endothelium or blockade of prostaglandin synthesis by the administration of indomethacin (10(-5) M). Addition to the suffusion solution of arachidonic acid (10(-7) and 10(-6) M), prostaglandin E2 (10(-9) and 10(-8) M), acetylcholine (10(-8) and 10(-6) M), or sodium nitroprusside (10(-8) M) evoked significant arteriolar dilation. When the bath PO2 was reduced from 150 to 15 mm Hg, arteriolar diameters increased by 58.8 +/- 9.3 microns (61%). Removal of the endothelium completely inhibited responses to hypoxia, acetylcholine, and arachidonic acid, whereas responses to sodium nitroprusside and prostaglandin E2 remained unaltered. In arterioles with an intact endothelium, indomethacin completely inhibited the responses to hypoxia and arachidonic acid, whereas responses to acetylcholine and sodium nitroprusside were unaltered. These findings support the conclusion that endothelium-derived prostaglandins mediate the arteriolar dilation to hypoxia in rat skeletal muscle arterioles.

Endothelium-dependent dilation to L-arginine in isolated rat skeletal muscle arterioles.

The vascular actions of L-arginine (L-Arg) were studied in isolated, pressurized first-order rat cremaster muscle arterioles (93 +/- 2.9 microns) bathed in a Krebs bicarbonate-buffered solution, pH 7.4, equilibrated with 21% O2-5% CO2. Arterioles were studied before and after either the administration of NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 10(-3) M), an inhibitor of the synthesis of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), or the removal of the endothelium. Acetylcholine (ACh, 10(-8) and 10(-6) M), sodium nitroprusside (SNP, 10(-8) M) and phenylephrine (PE, 10(-7) M) evoked dilation and constriction, respectively. L-Arg, (10(-5)-10(-3) M) the precursor of EDRF, evoked dose-dependent arteriolar dilation; whereas D-arginine (D-Arg, 10(-5)-10(-3) M) was without any significant effect. Administration of L-NNA significantly reduced basal diameters and significantly inhibited the arteriolar dilations to both ACh and L-Arg but had no effect on the dilation to SNP. Removal of the arteriolar endothelium with air inhibited dilations to both ACh and L-Arg, had no effect on responses to SNP, and potentiated vasoconstrictor responses to PE. These findings suggest that in skeletal muscle arterioles the dilations to ACh and L-Arg are endothelium dependent and that microvascular endothelium modulates constrictor responses to PE. Thus EDRF may play an important role in the local regulation of arteriolar resistance and blood flow.

Regulation of arteriolar tone and responses via L-arginine pathway in skeletal muscle.

With in vivo television microscopy, changes in arteriolar diameter to topical administration of various vasoactive agents were examined in the absence or in the presence of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, topical 100 microM) or NG-nitro-L-arginine (L-NNA, 2.5 microM, 20 microliters/min ia), specific inhibitors of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF) biosynthesis. In cremaster muscle arterioles (15-22 microns) of rats (n = 6-11), dilations to acetylcholine (1-100 ng) were significantly inhibited (60-70%) by either of the arginine analogues. This inhibition was reversed by subsequent administration of 1 mM L-arginine. Dose-dependent constriction to norepinephrine was enhanced by L-NMMA. Indomethacin treatment reduced arteriolar dilation to bradykinin (BK, 1-100 ng), which was significantly inhibited by additional administration of L-NNA. Application of L-NNA first, followed by additional indomethacin, elicited similar results. Dilations to sodium nitroprusside and adenosine were not reduced in the presence of the inhibitors. L-NMMA or L-NNA caused no change in systemic blood pressure but elicited a significant reduction in arteriolar diameter; this effect was not reversed by 1 mM L-arginine. These data demonstrate the presence of an L-arginine pathway to produce EDRF (nitric oxide) in skeletal muscle microcirculation that mediates and/or modulates arteriolar responses to vasoactive agents and could contribute to the regulation of basal vascular tone.

Modified arteriolar responses to ATP after impairment of endothelium by light-dye techniques in vivo.

In this study we investigated whether endothelial cells are involved in the dilation of third-order arterioles (14 to 22 microns) in response to adenosine triphosphate (ATP) in cremaster muscle of pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Two light/dye (L/D) techniques were employed to achieve selective, local endothelial impairment. One of these techniques utilizes a mercury lamp and sodium fluorescein, the other a Helium-Neon laser and Evans blue dye. L/D treatment (illumination with the appropriate wavelengths of light in the presence of an intravascular dye) of a 20-to 100-microns segment of an arteriole resulted in a complete loss of arteriolar dilation in response to topical administration of acetylcholine (10(-6) M) and arachidonic acid (AA, 10(-5) M). These agents were applied in 100-microl aliquots without interrupting the continuous suffusion with Ringer-gelatin solution and caused a approximately 70% increase in vascular diameter before the L/D intervention. Selectivity of the impairment was assessed by arteriolar responses to the nonendothelium-dependent dilator agents adenosine (10(-5) M) and sodium nitroprusside (2 X 10(-7) M), which elicited the same degree of dilation before and after L/D treatment. Under control conditions ATP (10(-6), 10(-5), and 10(-4) M) elicited dose-dependent increases in arteriolar diameter (from 38 to 74%). After impairment of arteriolar endothelium, dilation in response to all doses of ATP was significantly reduced. Theophylline (30 microM) significantly inhibited arteriolar dilation in response to adenosine (10(-6), 10(-5), and 10(-4) M) but did not affect the responses to various doses of ATP. Moreover, impairment of endothelium enhanced constrictor responses of arterioles to norepinephrine (0.6 X 10(-8) M). These results indicate that arteriolar endothelium of skeletal muscle can mediate or modulate arteriolar responses to various vasoactive agents, suggesting that it has an important role in the regulation of blood flow.

Methylene blue inhibits vasodilation of skeletal muscle arterioles to acetylcholine and nitric oxide via the extracellular generation of superoxide anion.

The mechanism of modulation of cyclic GMP-associated vascular responses by methylene blue, an agent employed to inhibit the activation of soluble guanylate cyclase in tissues, was investigated in the cremaster muscle microcirculation of pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. The effect of topically applied agents on the diameter of third-order arterioles (15-20 microns diameter) was determined by in vivo television microscopy. Topical application (100 microliters) of acetylcholine (0.01 microgram) or nitric oxide (0.06-6 micrograms) caused vasodilator responses that were inhibited (P less than .05, n = 6-8) 64% and 30 to 100%, respectively, by suffusion of the preparation with 5 microM methylene blue. Agents that are thought to produce activation of guanylate cyclase via cellular metabolism to nitric oxide, nitroglycerin (0.5 ng-0.5 microgram) or nitroprusside (0.5 ng-0.5 microgram), also produced vasodilation. However, methylene blue suffusion did not inhibit these responses (n = 6-9). The inhibition of vasodilation to acetylcholine or nitric oxide by methylene blue was completely prevented by suffusion of superoxide dismutase, but not affected by suffusion of catalase. Based on the current conceptualization of the mechanism of action of these vasodilator agents in isolated larger blood vessels, methylene blue appears to inhibit responses in this skeletal muscle microcirculatory preparation through the extracellular generation of superoxide anion and not via a direct interaction with guanylate cyclase.

Similarities in the pharmacological modulation of reactive hyperemia and vasodilation to hydrogen peroxide in rat skeletal muscle arterioles: effects of probes for endothelium-derived mediators.

Our laboratory has demonstrated previously that prostaglandins are partially responsible for the vasodilation of rat cremaster muscle arterioles in vivo to a brief occlusion or hydrogen peroxide (H2O2). In the present study, in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats, we investigated the mechanism of the prostaglandin-independent portion of the dilation to these stimuli by measurement of changes in the diameter of third order cremasteric arterioles (approximately 15 microns) by video microscopy. In the presence of indomethacin suffusion (10 micrograms/ml), arteriolar dilation to the release of a 15-sec occlusion of a single arteriole or to topical application of 0.1 to 1 mM H2O2 (100 microliters) was reduced significantly by suffusion of 20 microM quinacrine or 5 microM methylene blue, whereas vasodilation to adenosine was not affected by these probes. Furthermore, the reactive hyperemia was not altered by suffusion of 50 microM hydroquinone or 0.2 mM NG-monomethyl-L-arginine, inhibitors of the dilation to acetylcholine mediated by the endothelium-derived relaxing factor. Reactive hyperemia was also not affected by 30 microM theophylline (an adenosine antagonist) or suffusion of catalase (160 U/ml) plus superoxide dismutase (240 U/ml). Therefore, the reactive hyperemia does not appear to be mediated through endothelium-derived relaxing factor, adenosine or the extracellular formation of reactive O2 species. However, these observations suggest that the prostaglandin-independent vasodilation to H2O2 and to the release of a brief arteriolar occlusion may be mediated by a common mechanism, possibly involving cyclic GMP. Similarities in pharmacological modulation of the dilation after occlusion and to H2O2 in the cremaster microcirculation suggest consideration of the involvement of H2O2 in the hyperemic response.

Endothelial impairment inhibits prostaglandin and EDRF-mediated arteriolar dilation in vivo.

The role of endothelium in the vasodilation of third order arterioles of cremaster muscle to a variety of vasoactive agents was investigated in pentobarbital-anesthetized rats. Changes in diameter to topical administration of agents were measured with image shearing, before and after mercury light/sodium fluorescein (light/dye) treatment of a 50- to 100-microns segment of the arteriole under study and were recorded with video microscopy. Before light/dye treatment, arachidonic acid (10(-5) M), prostaglandin E2 (5 x 10(-6) M), A23187 (2 x 10(-6) M), acetylcholine (10(-5) M), and adenosine (10(-4) M) elicited dilation between 75 and 106% of basal diameter. After light/dye treatment, dilations to arachidonic acid, A23187, and acetylcholine were completely eliminated; however, the responses to prostaglandin E2 and adenosine were not altered. These results indicate that light/dye treatment interferes with the production of or response to prostaglandins as well as other endothelial mediators, like endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF). In a second series of experiments, bradykinin, in concentrations of 10(-9), 10(-8), and 10(-7) M elicited dose-dependent dilations, which were partially inhibited by indomethacin and completely abolished after additional light/dye treatment. Dilation of arterioles to adenosine was maintained throughout these experiments. These data suggest that vasodilation to bradykinin is mediated partly via prostaglandin production and partly via other endothelium-derived factor(s).

Microvascular effects of endothelin-1.

In the present study we examined the microvascular actions of endothelin (ET-1) in rat cremaster arterioles. Pentobarbital (35 mg/kg) anesthetized, five to six week old rats were prepared for in vivo observation and measurement of microvascular control dimensions and changes in diameter, in response to the topical administration of ET-1 (1 x 10(-11) to 5 x 10(-10) M). The effects of ET-1 were determined before and after the administration, by suffusion upon the cremaster muscle, of either indomethacin (IND, 10 micrograms/ml) or methylene blue (MB, 5 microM). Third order arterioles; 13-25 microns in diameter, were selected for study. The administration of ET-1 evoked a biphasic response of cremaster arterioles, an initial small, fleeting increase in diameter (14 to 26%) followed by a dose-dependent, longer lasting decrease in diameter (20 to 77%). The administration of either MB or IND had no effect on the arteriolar dilator and constrictor responses to ET-1. These results suggest that ET-1 is more potent a constrictor than dilator agent in this vascular bed and that the dilator component of the response is not mediated by either prostaglandins or EDRF. By virtue of its actions and potency, we conclude that ET may be an important factor in the regulation of vascular tone and local blood flow.