Comparison of signalling mechanisms underlying UTP-evoked vasoconstriction of rat pulmonary and tail arteries.

The endogenous nucleotide, UTP, acts at smooth muscle P2Y receptors to constrict rat pulmonary and tail arteries, but the underlying signalling pathways are poorly understood. The aim was to characterise the contribution of Ca2+ release and influx, rho kinase and protein kinase C to these contractions. Isometric tension was recorded from endothelium-denuded rat intralobar pulmonary and tail artery rings mounted on a wire myograph. Contractions were evoked by UTP and peak amplitude measured. Thapsigargin (1 µM), but not ryanodine (10 µM), significantly depressed contractions in both by 30-40% (P < 0.05). Nifedipine (1 µM) significantly reduced contractions in tail artery by ~60% (P < 0.01). Y27632 (10 µM), a rho kinase inhibitor and GF109203X (10 µM), a protein kinase C inhibitor, each significantly reduced pulmonary vasoconstriction by ~20%, and tail artery contractions by ~80% and ~40%, respectively (P < 0.01). In pulmonary artery, Y27632, GF109203X and thapsigargin, acted in an additive manner, but nifedipine less so. Adding all four together abolished the UTP response. In tail artery, Y27632 plus thapsigargin or GF109203X or nifedipine abolished contractions. Thapsigargin, GF109203X and nifedipine, coapplied pair-wise, acted additively and applying all three together abolished UTP-evoked contractions. So, Ca2+ release from the sarcoplasmic reticulum and influx through Cav1.2 channels, but not ryanodine receptors, play significant roles in UTP-evoked vasoconstriction of rat pulmonary and tail arteries. Rho kinase and protein kinase C are also involved, but more so in tail artery. Thus UTP activates multiple signalling mechanisms that lead to vasoconstriction, but their relative importance differs in pulmonary compared with systemic arteries.

A study of the effect of relaxing music on heart rate recovery after exercise among healthy students.

BACKGROUND: Music has been employed in various clinical settings to reduce anxiety. However, meta-analysis has shown music to have little influence on haemodynamic parameters. This study aimed at investigating the effect of relaxing music on heart rate recovery after exercise. METHOD: Twenty-three student volunteers underwent treadmill exercise and were assessed for heart rate recovery and saliva analysis; comparing exposure to sedative music with exposure to silence during the recovery period immediately following exercise. RESULTS: No differences were found between music and non-music exposure regarding: heart rate recovery, resting pulse rate, and salivary cortisol. Music was no different to silence in affecting these physiological measures, which are all associated with anxiety. CONCLUSIONS: Relaxing music unaccompanied by meditation techniques or other such interventions may not have a major role in reducing anxiety in certain experimental settings.

P2X and P2Y nucleotide receptors as targets in cardiovascular disease.

Endogenous nucleotides have widespread actions in the cardiovascular system, but it is only recently that the P2X and P2Y receptor subtypes, at which they act, have been identified and subtype-selective agonists and antagonists developed. These advances have greatly increased our understanding of the physiological and pathophysiological functions of P2X and P2Y receptors, but investigation of the clinical usefulness of selective ligands is at an early stage. Nonetheless, the evidence considered in this review demonstrates clearly that various cardiovascular disorders, including vasospasm, hypertension, congestive heart failure and cardiac damage during ischemic episodes, may be viable targets. With further development of novel, selective agonists and antagonists, our understanding will continue to improve and further therapeutic applications are likely to be discovered.

Identification of contractile P2Y1, P2Y6, and P2Y12 receptors in rat intrapulmonary artery using selective ligands.

ATP and UDP constrict rat intrapulmonary arteries, but which receptors mediate these actions is unclear. Here, we used selective agonists and antagonists, along with measurements of P2Y receptor expression, to characterize the receptor subtypes involved. Isometric tension was recorded from endothelium-denuded rat intrapulmonary artery rings (i.d. 200-500 µm) mounted on a wire myograph. Expression of P2Y receptor subtype expression was determined by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction with receptor-specific oligonucleotide primers. The selective P2Y(1) agonist (N)-methanocarba-2-methylthioadenosine-5'-O-diphosphate (MRS2365) induced small, concentration-dependent contractions that were inhibited by the P2Y(1) antagonist N(6)-methyl-2'-deoxyadenosine-3',5'-bisphosphate (MRS2179). Contractions evoked by ATP were unaffected by MRS2179, but inhibited by approximately one-third by the P2Y(12) antagonist N(6)-(2-methylthiomethyl)-2-(3,3,3-trifluoropropylthio)dichloro-methylene ATP (AR-C69931MX). Combined blockade of P2X1 and P2Y(12) receptors virtually abolished the response to ATP. ADP also evoked contractions that were abolished by AR-C69931MX. The selective P2Y(6) receptor agonist 3-(2-oxo-2-phenylethyl)-UDP (PSB 0474) evoked concentration-dependent contractions and was approximately three times more potent than UDP, but the P2Y(14) agonist UDP-glucose had no effect. Contractions evoked by UDP were inhibited by the P2Y(6) receptor antagonist N,N'-1,4-butanediylbis-N'-(3-isothiocyanatophenyl)thiourea (MRS2578), but not the cysteinyl leukotriene 1 (CysL(1)) antagonist 3-(3-(2-(7-chloro-2-quinolinyl)ethenyl)phenyl)((3-dimethylamino-3-oxopropyl)thio)methyl)thiopropanoic acid (MK571). Higher concentrations of MRS2578 inhibited contractions to KCl, so they were not studied further. mRNA for P2Y(1), P2Y(6), and P2Y(12) receptors was identified. Our working model is that P2Y(12) and P2X1 receptors are present in rat intrapulmonary arteries and together mediate ATP-induced vasoconstriction. Contractile P2Y(6), but not P2Y(14) or CysLT(1), receptors are also present and are a major site through which UDP evokes constriction.

Characterisation of P2X receptors expressed in rat pulmonary arteries.

Previous studies indicated that a P2X receptor other than the P2X1 subtype might be present in rat large, but not small pulmonary arteries. The aim here was to characterise further these P2X receptors. Isometric tension was recorded from rat isolated small (i.d. 250-500 µm) and large pulmonary artery (i.d. 1-1.5 mm) rings mounted on a wire myograph. In both tissues the P2X receptor agonist α,ß-meATP evoked rapidly-developing contractions that were inhibited by the P2X antagonists NF449, PPADS and suramin in a concentration-dependent manner and eventually abolished by each. The rank order of the potency in both tissues was NF449>PPADS=suramin. For each antagonist there was no significant difference between its potency in the small and large pulmonary arteries. Prolonged administration of a high concentration of α,ß-meATP induced complete desensitisation in both tissues. RT-PCR followed by PCR with specific oligonucleotide primers, identified mRNA for all seven P2X subunits. Subtype-specific antibodies showed strong, punctate P2X1 receptor-like immunoreactivity in the majority of cells and faint, punctate staining with the anti-P2X2 and anti-P2X4 antibodies, whilst P2X5-like immunoreactivity was barely detectable and no P2X3, P2X6, and P2X7 receptor-like immunoreactivity was seen. No differences in P2X mRNA and protein expression were seen between small and large pulmonary arteries. In conclusion, the pharmacological properties and mRNA and protein expression profiles of P2X receptors in rat small and large pulmonary arteries are very similar. Thus P2X1 appears to be the predominant P2X subunit functionally expressed in smooth muscle cells of rat small and large pulmonary arteries.