Comparison of calcium import as a function of contraction in the aortic smooth muscle of Sprague-Dawley, Wistar Kyoto and spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Genetic variations of far-reaching consequences have been established between spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) and their controls, Wistar Kyoto rats (WKY). The SHR strain is the most widely used model for the study of genetic hypertension. Calcium homeostasis in the vascular smooth muscle (VSM) is controlled by calcium channels and calcium pumps located in both VSM and the overlying endothelial cells that line the large blood vessels and the heart. Hypertension adversely affects calcium homeostasis. Investigations on the import of calcium from extracellular spaces with alpha1-adrenergic stimulation as a function of contractility of VSM cells in SHR and WKY were made and compared with the contractility observed in VSM cells of Sprague-Dawley (CD) rats. Experiments were performed on rings from thoracic aortas of three strains with endothelial lining intact or removed to discern the paracrine control of endothelium on contractility in response to calcium import. The internal stores of Ca2+ were depleted by repeated alpha 1-adrenergic stimulation with phenylephrine (PE) and refilling of these stores was prevented by cyclopiazonic acid (CPA) and/or thapsigargin (TG), two known inhibitors of Ca2+ATPase, the enzyme that drives sarcoplasmic calcium pumps. The two components of tonic muscular contraction, T I and T II, which are known to be due to the flow of Ca2+ from the extracellular gradient controlled via the poly-phosphoinositide cascade and nifedipine sensitive Ca2+ channels were found to be variable among these strains. Implications of these variations are discussed in this report

Vascular smooth muscle, endothelial regulation and effects of aspirin in hypertension.

Dysfunction of vascular smooth muscle (VSM) is at the center of occlusive disorders of the cardiovascular system such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease and hypoxia. In addition to circulating biogenic amines and various neurotransmitters originating from the central nervous system and endocrine system, various autocoids of arachidonic acid metabolism in the blood as well as in the endothelium play an important regulatory role in the maintenance of the tone and the contractile function of VSM. A monolayer of endothelial cells lining the heart and large blood vessels is responsible for producing and releasing both endocrine and paracrine substances such as endothelins, nitric oxide, prostaglandins and prostacyclins. Aspirin, (acetylsalicylic acid/ASA) an ancient remedy against fever and pain, is emerging as an effective drug not only against occlusive disorders but also against various cancers and the AIDs virus. During pregnancy induced hypertension (PIH) and in occlusive disorders, aspirin provides relief through inhibition of cyclooxygenase, an enzyme required for the metabolism of arachidonic acid to produce prostaglandins and prostacyclins in platelets and in endothelial cells. Because of its unique molecular constitution, synergistic ability and solubility in the lipidic environment, various mechanisms of aspirin's actions are being currently investigated. In this review, the effect of aspirin on the regulation of VSM in the presence and absence of endothelium are discussed.

Effect of aspirin on the contractility of aortic smooth muscle and the course of blood pressure development in male spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on aortic smooth muscle contractility were studied in aortic rings of male SHR and WKY rats. The rats were administered two intraperitoneal injections of 10 mg/kg of ASA per week for ten weeks. Blood pressure of each rat was monitored twice weekly prior to the i.p. injections. Twenty four hours after the last injection the aortic smooth muscles were evaluated for generation of active tension in response to KCl, Phenylephrine (PE), Clonidine and Norepinephrine (NE). In another set of experiments calcium conductance was evaluated in the presence or absence of endothelium both in ASA treated and non treated animals. We report that aortic rings from ASA-treated SHR animals were more responsive to contractile agents than rings from non-treated SHR male rats. Also, the Ca2+ conductance in vitro was enhanced appreciably in SHR aortic rings denuded of their monolayer of endothelium in response to ASA treatment. No decrease in systolic blood pressure was observed in response to ASA treatment in SHR male rats. These results suggest that acetylsalicylic acid not only may modulate aortic smooth muscle contractility through the metabolites of arachidonic acid but may repair to a great extent the hypertension associated plasma membrane permeability defect of vascular myocytes.

Effect of aspirin on the contractility of aortic rings in vitro from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effect of Acetylsalicylic acid (ASA) on the responsiveness of rat aortic smooth muscle was investigated by comparing the contractility of aortic rings from SHR and WKY rats in response to alpha-agonist, phenylephrine (PE). Cumulative dose response curves for PE were generated from aortic rings of SHR and WKY rats in the presence and absence of 0.2mM ASA. To investigate the involvement of endothelium on ASA mediated effects, active tension was recorded for denuded and non-denuded rings from SHR animals in response to KCl and PE. Denuded and non-denuded aortic rings from SHR animals in the presence of ASA produced significantly higher active tension than in the absence of ASA. The reactivity of aortic rings from WKY control animals was not altered significantly in the presence of ASA. These studies suggest that ASA can also modulate aortic contractility through other mechanism(s) in addition to its effect on the metabolites of arachidonic acid. Significance of these observations is discussed below.

Effect of aspirin on the contractility of aortic smooth muscle in female spontaneously hypertensive rats.

The effects of acetylsalicylic acid (ASA), on aortic smooth muscle contractility during hypertension were studied in female SHR and WKY rats. The rats were administered two intraperitoneal injections of 10 mg/kg of ASA per week for three weeks. Twenty four hours after the last injection the aortic smooth muscles were evaluated for generation of active tension in response to KCl, phenylephrine, clonidine and norepinephrine. We report that aortic rings from ASA-treated SHR animals were more responsive than rings from non-treated SHR female rats. ASA treatment of SHR animals restored the contractile response to the level shown by non-treated WKY control female rats. The response from aortic rings of ASA-treated SHR to KCl, phenylephrine and clonidine was essentially similar to the response of rings from non-ASA-treated WKY control female rats. We did not observe any decrease in the systolic blood pressure during the ASA treatment in SHR female rats. These results suggest that acetylsalicylic acid modulates aortic smooth muscle contractility either through the metabolites of arachidonic acid or through alpha-adrenoceptors.

In vitro caffeine induced aortic smooth muscle reactivity in rat.

The effects of caffeine on aortic smooth muscle contractility during hypertension were studied in SHR and WKY control rats. To compare the effects of Mg++ on vascular reactivity induced by caffeine 1.2 mM MgCl2 was either included or omitted from the Krebs solution bathing the aortic tissue. The role of alpha-adrenergic receptors and verapamil-sensitive Ca++ channels in eliciting caffeine induced contraction in aortic tissues was also examined in Sprague Dawley rats. We report that the aortic smooth muscle from SHR animal was less responsive than WKY aortic smooth muscle to 10 and 20 mM concentrations of caffeine. Caffeine induced a relaxation of aortic smooth muscle contracted with 60 mM KCl or 10(-7) M NE. However, the relaxation response was slower in SHR as compared to WKY rats. To assess the involvement of alpha-adrenergic receptors in caffeine induced aortic contractility alpha 1- and alpha 2-receptors were blocked with 10(-7) M prazosin and 10(-7) M yohimbine respectively. The caffeine induced aortic contractility did not seem to involve alpha-adrenergic receptors. A blockade of verapamil sensitive Ca++ channels with 10(-7) M verapamil failed to inhibit caffeine induced aortic contractility. These results indicate that caffeine involves release of Ca++ in vascular muscle, however, Ca++ is released from a site other than the one controlled by alpha-adrenergic receptors. Also, the Ca++ channels involved are other than the Verapamil sensitive Ca++ channels. Yet it is clear that if the aortic contractility is due to Ca++ release alone, then caffeine is a potent agent for Ca++ release in the aortic smooth muscle of rat. Additionally, the caffeine-sensitive mechanism for aortic smooth muscle contraction is impaired during hypertension.

Evaluation of isomers of octopamine for in vitro alpha-adrenergic stimulation of the aortic smooth muscle from spontaneously hypertensive rats.

Isomers of octopamine were tested for in vitro alpha-adrenergic stimulation of aortic smooth muscle of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). In order to test the response of alpha 1-adrenoceptors to meta-, para-, and ortho-octopamine, alpha 2-adrenoceptors were blocked with 10(-7) M yohimbine, and to measure the response of alpha 2-adrenoceptors the alpha 1-adrenoceptors were blocked with 10(-7) M prazosin. The contractile response of aortic smooth muscle of SHR to stimulation by phenylephrine, m-, p-, and o-isomers of octopamine in the presence of yohimbine was not appreciably altered. However, administration of prazosin severely attenuated the response of muscles of these compounds indicating that like phenylephrine, the isomers of octopamine stimulate mainly alpha 1-adrenoceptors. The attenuation of contractile response to isomers of octopamine in the presence of prazosin was not as pronounced as in the case of phenylephrine. The comparative potencies of phenylephrine, m-, p-, and o-octopamine in the presence of 10(-7) M prazosin were 1:1.2:2.5:0.75, respectively. Thus, it appears that the isomers of octopamine, especially para- and meta-octopamine, play a much more important role in the physiology of vascular smooth muscle than has been thus far perceived.

The effect of hyperthyroidism and hypothyroidism on alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic responsiveness in rat aortic smooth muscle.

We report the role of thyroid hormones on in vitro responsiveness of rat aortic smooth muscle to alpha-adrenergic stimulation. Four groups of rats: hypothyroid, hyperthyroid, thyroxine (0.1 mg/kg) treated hypothyroid and controls were employed. Response of alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenoceptors was evoked with 6 incremental doses (10(-9) to 10(-4) M) of preferential alpha 1-agonist, phenylephrine and alpha 2-agonist, clonidine respectively. alpha 1-Adrenoceptors were also evoked by phenylephrine after blockade of alpha 2-adrenoceptors with 10(-7) M yohimbine. Similarly, alpha 2-adrenoceptors were stimulated with clonidine after blocking alpha 1-adrenoceptors with selective antagonists prazosin (10(-7) M). Aortic responsiveness to alpha-agonist norepinephrine was compared between the aortae of hypothyroid and euthyroid rats after blockade of alpha 2-adrenoceptors with 10(-4) M corynanthine. We report that in hypothyroid aortae, alpha 1-adrenergic response was significantly decreased, the dose response curve shifted to the right and the maximal response was 30% less than the normal; alpha 2-adrenergic response was completely inhibited in hypothyroid state; also, IP injections of 0.1 mg/kg thyroxine twice in 48 h to thyroidectomized rats reversed the effects of hypothyroidism on both alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic response. Hyperthyroidism did not alter alpha 1- and alpha 2-adrenergic response. These results signify the role of thyroid hormones in the regulation of alpha-adrenergic response in rat aortae.

Probable occurrence of brain basic protein factor I, an activator of phosphoprotein phosphatases.

Basic protein factor I (BPFI was purified to homogeneity from bovine brain by boiling and trichloroacetic acid-precipitation of tissue homogenate, followed by DEAE-cellulose, Sephadex G-150, Affi-Gel-phenothiazine, and Bio-Gel P-6DG chromatographic procedures. The preparation appeared as a single protein band in the SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis with a minimal Mr of 13,200. The factor was a basic protein as indicated by an estimated isoelectric point of pH 8.3 and a high content of amino acids including arginine, histidine, lysine and others. In the absence of Mn2+, the factor stimulated the phosphoprotein phosphatases (PPase) from rabbit brains. Unlike histones or protamine, the factor was a poor substrate for megamodulin-dependent protein kinase. In addition, the factor did not interact significantly with E. coli megamodulin.

Modulation of protein kinases and phosphoprotein phosphatases by a small acidic protein from bovine brains.

A small, acidic and heat-stable protein was purified from bovine brains by column chromatography on DEAE-cellulose, Bio-Gel HTP, Affi-Gel phenothiazine and Sephadex G-75. This protein stimulates megamodulin-dependent protein kinase I from brains and phosphoprotein phosphatases from either brain or yeast. However, it inhibits cyclic AMP-dependent protein kinases from skeletal muscle.

Purification and partial characterization of megamodulin, a heat-stable protein factor from E. coli and its stimulatory effect on RNA polymerase holoenzyme.

Megamodulin, a heat-stable protein from Escherichia coli was isolated and purified near homogeneity as determined by sodium dodecyl sulphate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It had a molecular weight of 71,000 and pl between 3.5 and 4.0. This factor stimulated E. coli RNA polymerase 71-fold in the presence of a synthetic template such as poly (rA).p(dT). When TATAAA sequence was used as template, the RNA polymerase activity was increased 68 times by this factor. The possible mechanism by which this protein factor may regulate the RNA polymerase activity has been described.

Comparative estimation of octopamine in the aortic smooth muscle, plasma and red blood cells of spontaneously hypertensive and Wistar Koyoto control rats.

Octopamine is an alpha agonist, the levels of which vary with age and in pathophysiological conditions. The levels of octopamine were found to be higher in the aortic smooth muscle and red blood corpuscles, but lower in the plasma of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) than in the Wistar Koyoto rats. The importance of these variations are discussed.

Megamodulin, a cation binding protein from Escherichia coli and its effect on bacterial RNA polymerase.

The versatile multication binding protein, otherwise known as the stimulatory protein kinase modulator (PKMs) or megamodulin has been isolated from Escherichia coli and it has been found to stimulate E. coli RNA polymerase holoenzyme. It has been hypothesized that megamodulin may regulate RNA polymerase activity by blocking the pausing mechanism and/or increased chain elongation activity during the process of transcription, and also may play an important role in protein synthesis.

Effect of isomers of octopamine on in vitro reactivity of vascular smooth muscle of rats.

The vascular reactivity to DL-ortho-, meta-, and para-octopamine was tested in vitro in aortic smooth muscle of the rat. When reactivities were compared on a molar basis with L-phenylephrine, an alpha-adrenergic agonist, the potencies of the three isomers were: 0.7500, 0.0075 and 0.0038 times that of phenylephrine for the m-, p- and o-isomer, respectively, Thus, of the three isomers, DL-m-octopamine had the greatest alpha-adrenergic activity in vitro as it did in vivo in earlier studies. Additional studies showed L-phenylephrine to induce about one-third the vascular response induced by L-norepinephrine.