Apelin effects in human splanchnic arteries. Role of nitric oxide and prostanoids.

Apelin effects were examined in human splanchnic arteries from liver donors (normal arteries) and from liver recipients. Segments 3 mm long were obtained from mesenteric arteries taken from liver donors (normal arteries), and from hepatic arteries taken from cirrhotic patients undergoing liver transplantation (liver recipients), and the segments were mounted in organ baths for isometric tension recording. In arteries under resting conditions, apelin (10(-10)-10(-6) M) caused no effect in any of the arteries tested. In arteries precontracted with the thromboxane A(2) analogue U46619 (10(-7)-10(-6) M), apelin (10(-10)-10(-6) M) produced concentration-dependent relaxation that was lower in hepatic than in mesenteric arteries, whereas sodium nitroprusside (10(-8)-10(-4) M) produced a similar relaxation in both types of arteries. The inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis N(w)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, 10(-4) M) diminished the relaxation to apelin in mesenteric but not in hepatic arteries. The inhibitor of cyclooxygenase meclofenamate (10(-5) M) did not affect the relaxation provoked by apelin in both types of arteries. Therefore, apelin may produce relaxation in normal human splanchnic arteries, and this relaxation may be mediated in part by nitric oxide without involvement of prostanoids. This relaxation as well as the role of nitric oxide may be decreased in splanchnic arteries from cirrhotic patients.

Goat cerebrovascular reactivity to ADP after ischemia-reperfusion. Role of nitric oxide, prostanoids and reactive oxygen species.

To analyze the cerebrovascular effects of ischemia-reperfusion, cerebrovascular reactivity to ADP was studied after inducing 60-min occlusion followed by 60-min reperfusion of the left middle cerebral artery (MCA) in anesthetized goats. In 12 goats, at the end of reperfusion, left MCA resistance was decreased by 19%, and reactive hyperemia to 5- and 10-s occlusions as well as the cerebral vasodilatation to ADP (0.03-0.3 microg) but not to sodium nitroprusside (0.3-3 microg) was decreased. In 28 animals, killed at the end of reperfusion, segments 3-mm long were obtained from the left (ischemic) and right (control) MCA, prepared for isometric tension recording, and precontracted with the thromboxane A2 analogue U46619. The relaxation to ADP (10(-8) to 10(-5) M) but not to sodium nitroprusside (10(-8) to 10(-4) M) was lower in ischemic arteries. L-NAME (inhibitor of nitric oxide synthesis, 10(-4) M), charybdotoxin (10(-7) M)+apamin (10(-6) M) (blockers of KCa), or catalase (1000 U/ml) reduced the relaxation to ADP only in control arteries. Charybdotoxin+apamin further augmented the L-NAME-induced reduction in the relaxation to ADP in control arteries. The inhibitor of cyclooxygenase meclofenamate (10(-5) M) increased the relaxation to ADP only in ischemic arteries. The superoxide dismutase mimetic tiron (10(-2) M) increased the ADP-induced relaxation only in ischemic arteries. Therefore, it is suggested that ischemia-reperfusion produces cerebrovascular endothelial dysfunction, which may be associated with decreased nitric oxide bioavailability, decreased release of an EDHF, and increased production of vasoconstrictor prostanoids. All these alterations may be related in part with an increased production of superoxide anion.