Increased Na+ intake during gestation in rats is associated with enhanced vascular reactivity and alterations of K+ and Ca2+ function

2004 ◽  
Vol 287 (4) ◽  
pp. H1848-H1856 ◽  
Author(s):  
Karine Auger ◽  
Annie Beauséjour ◽  
Michèle Brochu ◽  
Jean St-Louis
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Reactivity ◽  
Channel Blocker ◽  
Gestational Hypertension ◽  
Sodium Intake ◽  
Physiological Changes ◽  
Channel Activity ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Regular Diet ◽  
Channel Activator ◽  
Sodium Supplementation

Gestation is associated with decreased blood pressure and resistance to the effects of vasoconstrictor agents. A recent study showed that pregnant rats, on increased sodium intake, present physiological changes that resemble those observed in preeclampsia. We investigated the effects of sodium supplementation on reactivity and on potassium and Ca2+ channel activity in blood vessels during gestation. Sodium supplements, 0.9% or 1.8% NaCl as drinking water, were given to nonpregnant and pregnant rats for 7 days (last week of gestation). Reactivity to phenylephrine (PE), KCl, arginine vasopressin (AVP), and tetraethylammonium (TEA) was measured in aortic rings under modulation of potassium and calcium channels. TEA, a nonselective K+ channel inhibitor, induced concentration-dependent responses in aortic rings from nonpregnant but not in those from pregnant rats. The response to TEA was restored in rings from pregnant rats after preincubation with 10 mmol/l KCl. Sodium supplementation did not affect the response to TEA in the aortas of pregnant animals. After sodium supplementation, maximum responses to PE and AVP were decreased and increased in aortic rings from nonpregnant and pregnant rats, respectively. Cromakalim (an ATP-sensitive K+ channel activator)-induced inhibition of the responses to the three vasoconstrictors was more striking in aorta from nonpregnant than pregnant rats on regular diet, whereas it produced similar inhibition in tissues from both groups of animals on 0.9% and 1.8% NaCl. NS-1619 (a Ca2+-sensitive K+ activator) elicited heightened effects in the aortas of pregnant animals receiving 0.9% NaCl supplementation. Nifedipine (a Ca2+ channel blocker) caused greater inhibition of the contractile responses in tissues from nonpregnant rats on regular diet, and its action was increased in pregnant rats on sodium-supplemented diets. These data demonstrate that augmented sodium intake during gestation in the rat is linked with the reversal of gestational-associated resistance to vasopressors and indicate that this is an experimental model showing some features of gestational hypertension.

Mineralocorticoids participate in the reduced vascular reactivity of pregnant rats

2012 ◽  
Vol 302 (5) ◽  
pp. H1195-H1201 ◽  
Author(s):  
M. Provencher ◽  
V. Houde ◽  
M. Brochu ◽  
J. St-Louis
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Channel ◽  
Vascular Reactivity ◽  
Channel Blocker ◽  
Mineralocorticoid Receptors ◽  
Channel Activity ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Mineralocorticoid Antagonist ◽  
Calcium Activated Potassium Channels ◽  
Potassium Channel Activators ◽  
High Conductance

The renin-angiotensin-aldosterone (RAA) system is markedly activated in pregnancy. We evaluated if mineralocorticoid receptors (MR), a major component of the RAA system, are involved in the reduced vascular reactivity associated with pregnancy. Canrenoate (MR antagonist; 20 mg·kg−1·day−1) was administered to nonpregnant (NP) rats for 7 days and to pregnant rats from day 15 to 22 of gestation. These were killed on day 17, 19, or 22 of gestation and, for NP rats, after 7 days treatment. Constrictor responses to phenylephrine (PhE) and KCl were measured in endothelium-denuded thoracic aortic rings under the influence of modulators of potassium (activators) and calcium (blocker) channels. Responses to the constrictors were blunted from days 17 to 22 of gestation. Although canrenoate increased responses to PhE and KCl, it did not reverse their blunted responses in gestation. NS-1619 and cromakalim (respectively, high-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels and ATP-sensitive potassium channel activators) diminished responses to both PhE and KCl. Inhibition by NS-1619 on responses to both agonists was decreased under canrenoate treatment in NP, but the reduced influence of NS-1619 during gestation was reversed by the mineralocorticoid antagonist. Cromakalim reduced the response to PhE significantly in the pregnant groups; this effect was enhanced by canrenoate. Finally, nifedipine (calcium channel blocker) markedly reduced KCl responses but to a lesser extent at the end of pregnancy, an inhibiting effect that was increased with canrenoate treatment. These data demonstrate that treating rats with a MR antagonist increased vascular reactivity but that it differentially affected potassium and calcium channel activity in aortas of NP and pregnant animals. This suggests that aldosterone is one of the components involved in vascular adaptations to pregnancy.

Renal and cardiac oxidative/nitrosative stress in salt-loaded pregnant rat

2007 ◽  
Vol 293 (4) ◽  
pp. R1657-R1665 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Beauséjour ◽  
Véronique Houde ◽  
Karine Bibeau ◽  
Rébecca Gaudet ◽  
Jean St-Louis ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Nitrosative Stress ◽  
Gestational Hypertension ◽  
Sodium Intake ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
High Sodium ◽  
High Sodium Intake ◽  
Arterial Blood ◽  
Cardiac Ventricle

Sodium supplementation given for 1 wk to nonpregnant rats induces changes that are adequate to maintain renal and circulatory homeostasis as well as arterial blood pressure. However, in pregnant rats, proteinuria, fetal growth restriction, and placental oxidative stress are observed. Moreover, the decrease in blood pressure and expansion of circulatory volume, normally associated with pregnancy, are prevented by high-sodium intake. We hypothesized that, in these pregnant rats, a loss of the balance between prooxidation and antioxidation, particularly in kidneys and heart, disturbs the normal course of pregnancy and leads to manifestations such as gestational hypertension. We thus investigated the presence of oxidative/nitrosative stress in heart and kidneys following high-sodium intake in pregnant rats. Markers of this stress [8-isoprostaglandin F2α (8-iso-PGF2α) and nitrotyrosine], producer of nitric oxide [nitric oxide synthases (NOSs)], and antioxidants [superoxide dismutase (SOD) and catalase] were measured. Then, molecules (Na+-K+-ATPase and aconitase) or process [apoptosis (Bax and Bcl-2), inflammation (monocyte chemoattractant protein-1, connective tissue growth factor, and TNF-α)] susceptible to free radicals was determined. In kidneys from pregnant rats on 1.8% NaCl-water, NOSs, apoptotic index, and nitrotyrosine expression were increased, whereas Na+-K+-ATPase mRNA and activity were decreased. In the left cardiac ventricle of these rats, heightened nitrotyrosine, 8-iso-PGF2α, and catalase activity together with reduced endothelial NOS protein expression and SOD and aconitase activities were observed. These findings suggest that oxidative/nitrosative stress in kidney and left cardiac ventricle destabilizes the normal course of pregnancy and could lead to gestational hypertension.

Mechanisms of Direct Inhibitory Action of Isoflurane on Vascular Smooth Muscle of Mesenteric Resistance Arteries

2003 ◽  
Vol 99 (3) ◽  
pp. 666-677 ◽  
Author(s):  
Takashi Akata ◽  
Tomoo Kanna ◽  
Jun Yoshino ◽  
Shosuke Takahashi
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Smooth Muscle ◽  
Vascular Reactivity ◽  
Channel Blocker ◽  
Isometric Force ◽  
Systemic Resistance ◽  
Resistance Arteries ◽  
Voltage Gated ◽  
Fura 2 ◽  
Force Relation

Background Isoflurane has been shown to directly inhibit vascular reactivity. However, less information is available regarding its underlying mechanisms in systemic resistance arteries. Methods Endothelium-denuded smooth muscle strips were prepared from rat mesenteric resistance arteries. Isometric force and intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) were measured simultaneously in the fura-2-loaded strips, whereas only the force was measured in the beta-escin membrane-permeabilized strips. Results Isoflurane (3-5%) inhibited the increases in both [Ca2+]i and force induced by either norepinephrine (0.5 microM) or KCl (40 mM). These inhibitions were similarly observed after depletion of intracellular Ca2+ stores by ryanodine. Regardless of the presence of ryanodine, after washout of isoflurane, its inhibition of the norepinephrine response (both [Ca2+]i and force) was significantly prolonged, whereas that of the KCl response was quickly restored. In the ryanodine-treated strips, the norepinephrine- and KCl-induced increases in [Ca2+]i were both eliminated by nifedipine, a voltage-gated Ca2+ channel blocker, whereas only the former was inhibited by niflumic acid, a Ca2+-activated Cl- channel blocker. Isoflurane caused a rightward shift of the Ca2+-force relation only in the fura-2-loaded strips but not in the beta-escin-permeabilized strips. Conclusions In mesenteric resistance arteries, isoflurane depresses vascular smooth muscle reactivity by directly inhibiting both Ca2+ mobilization and myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity. Isoflurane inhibits both norepinephrine- and KCl-induced voltage-gated Ca2+ influx. During stimulation with norepinephrine, isoflurane may prevent activation of Ca2+-activated Cl- channels and thereby inhibit voltage-gated Ca2+ influx in a prolonged manner. The presence of the plasma membrane appears essential for its inhibition of the myofilament Ca2+ sensitivity.

scholarly journals AKAP5 complex facilitates purinergic modulation of vascular L-type Ca2+ channel CaV1.2

2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Paz Prada ◽  
Arsalan U. Syed ◽  
Gopireddy R. Reddy ◽  
Miguel Martín-Aragón Baudel ◽  
Víctor A. Flores-Tamez ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Reactivity ◽  
Vascular Complications ◽  
Channel Activity ◽  
Camp Synthesis ◽  
Anchoring Protein ◽  
Extracellular Glucose ◽  
Elevated Glucose ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Purinergic Modulation ◽  
Human And Mouse

Abstract The L-type Ca2+ channel CaV1.2 is essential for arterial myocyte excitability, gene expression and contraction. Elevations in extracellular glucose (hyperglycemia) potentiate vascular L-type Ca2+ channel via PKA, but the underlying mechanisms are unclear. Here, we find that cAMP synthesis in response to elevated glucose and the selective P2Y11 agonist NF546 is blocked by disruption of A-kinase anchoring protein 5 (AKAP5) function in arterial myocytes. Glucose and NF546-induced potentiation of L-type Ca2+ channels, vasoconstriction and decreased blood flow are prevented in AKAP5 null arterial myocytes/arteries. These responses are nucleated via the AKAP5-dependent clustering of P2Y11/ P2Y11-like receptors, AC5, PKA and CaV1.2 into nanocomplexes at the plasma membrane of human and mouse arterial myocytes. Hence, data reveal an AKAP5 signaling module that regulates L-type Ca2+ channel activity and vascular reactivity upon elevated glucose. This AKAP5-anchored nanocomplex may contribute to vascular complications during diabetic hyperglycemia.

scholarly journals The effect of chronic nitric oxide inhibition on vascular reactivity and blood pressure in pregnant rats

1999 ◽  
Vol 117 (5) ◽  
pp. 197-204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nilton Hideto Takiuti ◽  
Maria Helena Cetelli Carvalho ◽  
Soubhi Kahhale ◽  
Dorothy Nigro ◽  
Hermes Vieira Barbeiro ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Vascular Reactivity ◽  
Unit Weight ◽  
Control Group ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Nitric Oxide Inhibition ◽  
Female Wistar Rats ◽  
Main Component ◽  
Oxide Inhibition

CONTEXT: The exact mechanism involved in changes in blood pressure and peripheral vascular resistance during pregnancy is unknown. OBJECTIVE:To evaluate the importance of endothelium-derivated relaxing factor (EDRF) and its main component, nitric oxide, in blood pressure and vascular reactivity in pregnant rats. DESIGN: Clinical trial in experimentation animals. SETTING: University laboratory of Pharmacology. SAMPLE: Female Wistar rats with normal blood pressure, weight (152 to 227 grams) and age (90 to 116 days). INTERVENTION: The rats were divided in to four groups: pregnant rats treated with L-NAME (13 rats); pregnant control rats (8 rats); virgin rats treated with L-NAME (10 rats); virgin control rats (12 rats). The vascular preparations and caudal blood pressure were obtained at the end of pregnancy, or after the administration of L-NAME in virgin rats. MAIN MEASUREMENTS: The caudal blood pressure and the vascular response to acetylcholine in pre-contracted aortic rings, both with and without endothelium, and the effect of nitric oxide inhibition, Nw-L-nitro-arginine methyl-ester (L-NAME), in pregnant and virgin rats. The L-NAME was administered in the drinking water over a 10-day period. RESULTS: The blood pressure decreased in pregnancy. Aortic rings of pregnant rats were more sensitive to acetylcholine than those of virgin rats. After L-NAME treatment, the blood pressure increased and relaxation was blocked in both groups. The fetal-placental unit weight of the L-NAME group was lower than that of the control group. CONCLUSION: Acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation sensitivity was greater in pregnant rats and that blood pressure increased after L-NAME administration while the acetylcholine-induced vasorelaxation response was blocked.

Total autonomic blockade eliminates the attenuated pressor response to angiotensin II in pregnant rats

1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (6) ◽  
pp. R1270-R1275
Author(s):  
T. Hines ◽  
M. D. Lindheimer ◽  
W. M. Barron
Keyword(s):  
Angiotensin Ii ◽  
Repeated Measures ◽  
Vascular Reactivity ◽  
Peripheral Resistance ◽  
Systemic Resistance ◽  
Bolus Administration ◽  
Ang Ii ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
Pressor Responses ◽  
Autonomic Blockade

Pressor responses to angiotensin II (ANG II) are markedly attenuated in reflex-intact pregnant animals, a phenomenon widely attributed to intrinsic changes in vascular reactivity. To test the hypothesis that gestational augmentation of neural reflex activity contributes importantly to this phenomenon, changes in mean arterial pressure (MAP), cardiac output (CO), and total peripheral resistance (TPR) were compared during constant infusion (25-400 ng.kg-1.min-1) of ANG II in conscious virgin and pregnant rats, using a model of total autonomic blockade (chlorisondamine chloride and methscopolamine bromide), with restoration of baseline hemodynamics by infusion of norepinephrine. Basal CO was higher and TPR lower in pregnant (CO 121.8 +/- 3.8 ml/min; TPR 0.78 +/- 0.04 mmHg.ml-1.min) compared with virgin (CO 95.9 +/- 3.9 ml/min; TPR 1.05 +/- 0.08 mmHg.ml-1.min) rats (P < 0.005). Pressor responses to ANG II were similar in both groups of reflex-blocked animals due to comparable changes in TPR and CO (not significant by repeated-measures analysis of variance). Other experiments demonstrated that changes in MAP after bolus administration of ANG II did not differ in areflexic virgin and gravid rats. Thus in the absence of autonomic control ANG II has similar effects on systemic resistance in pregnant and nonpregnant rats, suggesting that reflex neural mechanisms contribute significantly to gestational changes in pressor responsiveness. These data further suggest that pregnancy is not accompanied by a generalized decrease in vascular reactivity to all pressor agents.

Cerebral artery KATP- and KCa-channel activity and contractility: changes with development

2000 ◽  
Vol 279 (6) ◽  
pp. R2004-R2014 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen Long ◽  
Lubo Zhang ◽  
Lawrence D. Longo
Keyword(s):  
Channel Blocker ◽  
Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Dependent Manner ◽  
Channel Activity ◽  
Channel Opener ◽  
Channel Inhibition ◽  
Middle Cerebral Arteries ◽  
Intracellular Ca ◽  
Near Term ◽  
Nonpregnant Adult

The present study was designed to test the hypothesis that in cerebral arteries of the fetus, ATP-sensitive (KATP) and Ca2+-activated K+channels (KCa) play an important role in the regulation of intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) and that this differs significantly from that of the adult. In main branch middle cerebral arteries (MCA) from near-term fetal (∼140 days) and nonpregnant adult sheep, simultaneously we measured norepinephrine (NE)-induced responses of vascular tension and [Ca2+]i in the absence and presence of selective K+-channel openers/blockers. In fetal MCA, in a dose-dependent manner, both the KATP-channel opener pinacidil and the KCa-channel opener NS 1619 significantly inhibited NE-induced tension [negative logarithm of the half-maximal inhibitory concentration (pIC50) = 5.0 ± 0.1 and 8.2 ± 0.1, respectively], with a modest decrease of [Ca2+]i. In the adult MCA, in contrast, both pinacidil and NS 1619 produced a significant tension decrease (pIC50 = 5.1 ± 0.1 and 7.6 ± 0.1, respectively) with no change in [Ca2+]i. In addition, the KCa-channel blocker iberiotoxin (10−7 to 10−6 M) resulted in increased tension and [Ca2+]i in both adult and fetal MCA, although the KATP-channel blocker glibenclamide (10−7 to 3 × 10−5 M) failed to do so. Of interest, administration of 10−7 M iberiotoxin totally eliminated vascular contraction and increase in [Ca2+]i seen in response to 10−5M ryanodine. In precontracted fetal cerebral arteries, activation of the KATP and KCa channels significantly decreased both tension and [Ca2+]i, suggesting that both K+ channels play an important role in regulating L-type channel Ca2+ flux and therefore vascular tone in these vessels. In the adult, KATP and the KCa channels also appear to play an important role in this regard; however, in the adult vessel, activation of these channels with resultant vasorelaxation can occur with no significant change in [Ca2+]i. These channels show differing responses to inhibition, e.g., KCa-channel inhibition, resulting in increased tension and [Ca2+]i, whereas KATP-channel inhibition showed no such effect. In addition, the KCa channel appears to be coupled to the sarcoplasmic reticulum ryanodine receptor. Thus differences in plasma membrane K+-channel activity may account, in part, for the differences in the regulation of contractility of fetal and adult cerebral arteries.

High-sodium intake prevents pregnancy-induced decrease of blood pressure in the rat

2003 ◽  
Vol 285 (1) ◽  
pp. H375-H383 ◽  
Author(s):  
Annie Beauséjour ◽  
Karine Auger ◽  
Jean St-Louis ◽  
Michèle Brochu
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Systolic Blood Pressure ◽  
Sodium Intake ◽  
Plasma Sodium ◽  
Mrna Levels ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
High Sodium ◽  
High Sodium Intake ◽  
The Impact

Despite an increase of circulatory volume and of renin-angiotensin-aldosterone system (RAAS) activity, pregnancy is paradoxically accompanied by a decrease in blood pressure. We have reported that the decrease in blood pressure was maintained in pregnant rats despite overactivation of RAAS following reduction in sodium intake. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the impact of the opposite condition, e.g., decreased activation of RAAS during pregnancy in the rat. To do so, 0.9% or 1.8% NaCl in drinking water was given to nonpregnant and pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats for 7 days (last week of gestation). Increased sodium intakes (between 10- and 20-fold) produced reduction of plasma renin activity and aldosterone in both nonpregnant and pregnant rats. Systolic blood pressure was not affected in nonpregnant rats. However, in pregnant rats, 0.9% sodium supplement prevented the decreased blood pressure. Moreover, an increase of systolic blood pressure was obtained in pregnant rats receiving 1.8% NaCl. The 0.9% sodium supplement did not affect plasma and fetal parameters. However, 1.8% NaCl supplement has larger effects during gestation as shown by increased plasma sodium concentration, hematocrit level, negative water balance, proteinuria, and intrauterine growth restriction. With both sodium supplements, decreased AT1 mRNA levels in the kidney and in the placenta were observed. Our results showed that a high-sodium intake prevents the pregnancy-induced decrease of blood pressure in rats. Nonpregnant rats were able to maintain homeostasis but not the pregnant ones in response to sodium load. Furthermore, pregnant rats on a high-sodium intake (1.8% NaCl) showed some physiological responses that resemble manifestations observed in preeclampsia.

TNF-α enhances contraction and inhibits endothelial NO-cGMP relaxation in systemic vessels of pregnant rats

2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (1) ◽  
pp. R130-R143 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jena B. Giardina ◽  
Gachavis M. Green ◽  
Kathy L. Cockrell ◽  
Joey P. Granger ◽  
Raouf A. Khalil
Keyword(s):  
Vascular Reactivity ◽  
Pregnancy Induced Hypertension ◽  
Vascular Relaxation ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Direct Role ◽  
Pregnant Rats ◽  
No Donor ◽  
Vascular Contraction ◽  
Tnf Α ◽  
Induced Hypertension

Tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) is elevated in the plasma of preeclamptic women and may have a role in pregnancy-induced hypertension. However, whether the hemodynamic effects of TNF-α reflect the direct effects on vascular reactivity is unclear. We tested the hypothesis that TNF-α impairs endothelium-dependent relaxation and enhances vascular contraction in systemic vessels of pregnant rats. We measured isometric contraction in aortic strips isolated from virgin and pregnant Sprague-Dawley rats (nontreated vs. treated for 2 h with 10–1,000 pg/ml TNF-α). In endothelium-intact vascular strips, TNF-α caused greater enhancement of phenylephrine (Phe) contraction in pregnant than virgin rats. TNF-α caused significant inhibition of ACh- and bradykinin-induced vascular relaxation and nitrite/nitrate production that were more prominent in pregnant than virgin rats. N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester [l-NAME, 100 μM, an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase] or 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3]-quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ, 1 μM, an inhibitor of cGMP production in smooth muscle) inhibited ACh relaxation and enhanced Phe contraction in nontreated but to a lesser extent in TNF-α-treated vessels, particularly those of pregnant rats. Endothelium removal enhanced Phe contraction in nontreated but not TNF-α-treated vessels, especially those of pregnant rats. Relaxation of Phe contraction with the NO donor sodium nitroprusside was not different between nontreated and TNF-α-treated vessels. Thus TNF-α enhances vascular contraction and inhibits endothelium-dependent NO-cGMP-mediated vascular relaxation in systemic vessels, particularly those of pregnant rats. The results support a direct role for TNF-α as a possible mediator of increased vascular resistance associated with pregnancy-induced hypertension.

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