scholarly journals Sexual dimorphism in prostanoid-potentiated vascular contraction: roles of endothelium and ovarian steroids

2002 ◽  
Vol 283 (5) ◽  
pp. H2062-H2073 ◽  
Author(s):  
Clifford T. Fulton ◽  
John N. Stallone
Keyword(s):  
Sexual Dimorphism ◽  
Vascular Reactivity ◽  
Contractile Response ◽  
Rat Aorta ◽  
Maximal Response ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Similar Extent ◽  
Contractile Responses ◽  
Ovarian Steroids ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats

The effects of constrictor prostanoid (CP) pathway inhibitors on vascular reactivity to vasopressin (VP) and phenylephrine (PE) were examined in thoracic aortas of male, female, and ovariectomized (OVX) female Sprague-Dawley rats. Maximal contractile response of control (Cont) aortas to VP was markedly higher in females (3,885 ± 332 mg/mg ring wt) than in males (810 ± 148 mg). Indomethacin (Indo; 10 μM) attenuated maximal response to VP in females (3,043 ± 277 mg) but not in males. SQ-29,548 (SQ; 1 μM) attenuated maximal response to VP in females (3,042 ± 290 mg) to a similar extent as Indo. Dazoxiben (Daz; 10 μM) alone had no effect, but Daz + SQ attenuated maximal contractile response to VP to a similar extent as SQ alone. Removal of the endothelium in female aortas attenuated contractile responses to VP in Cont aortas. OVX attenuated maximal contractile response to VP in Cont aortas (2,093 ± 329 mg) and abolished the attenuating effects of Indo. Indo, SQ, and Daz exerted identical effects on contractile responses of male, female, and OVX female aortas to PE. These findings establish the following in the rat aorta: 1) CP, probably thromboxane and/or endoperoxide, is responsible for ∼25–30% of contractile responses of females, but not males, to VP and PE; 2) CP production by the female aorta is primarily endothelial in origin; and 3) ovarian steroids modulate production and/or actions of CP in female aortas.

Sexual dimorphism in vasopressin-induced contraction of rat aorta

1991 ◽  
Vol 260 (2) ◽  
pp. H453-H458 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. Stallone ◽  
J. T. Crofton ◽  
L. Share
Keyword(s):  
Estrous Cycle ◽  
Vascular Reactivity ◽  
Rat Aorta ◽  
Isometric Tension ◽  
Female Rats ◽  
Male Rats ◽  
Maximal Response ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Tension Development ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats

Previously, we reported that, in the rat, pressor responsiveness to vasopressin (VP) is higher in males than in females during most phases of the estrous cycle. To explore the role of the vasculature in this phenomenon, we examined vascular reactivity to VP in thoracic aortas of male rats and female rats during each phase of the estrous cycle. Aortic rings were prepared from age-matched male and female Sprague-Dawley rats and mounted for isometric tension recording. Maximal response of female aortas to VP (4,246 +/- 163 mg/mg ring dry wt) was more than twice (P less than 0.001) that of male aortas (1,877 +/- 215 mg/mg ring wt). Sensitivity of female aortas to VP was substantially higher (P less than 0.001) than that of male aortas (EC50: 10.9 +/- 0.7 vs. 19.0 +/- 1.6 nM, respectively). Maximal rate of tension development (dT/dtmax) during contraction with VP was nearly twofold higher (P less than 0.01) in female aortas (536 +/- 23 mg/min) than in male aortas (300 +/- 19 mg/min). Maximal response, sensitivity, and dT/dtmax of female aortas did not vary significantly during the estrous cycle. Maximal response of female aortas to phenylephrine (PE; 1,251 +/- 93 mg/mg ring wt) was half that (P less than 0.001) of male aortas (2,546 +/- 194 mg/mg ring wt); sensitivity to PE did not differ significantly (EC50: 0.33 +/- 0.02 vs. 0.38 +/- 0.06 microM, respectively).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Role of endothelium in sexual dimorphism in vasopressin-induced contraction of rat aorta

1993 ◽  
Vol 265 (6) ◽  
pp. H2073-H2080 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. N. Stallone
Keyword(s):  
Contractile Response ◽  
Rat Aorta ◽  
Isometric Tension ◽  
No Synthase ◽  
Maximal Response ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Phenylephrine Hydrochloride ◽  
Rat Thoracic Aorta ◽  
Increased Sensitivity

In rat thoracic aorta, contractile responses to arginine vasopressin (AVP) are twofold higher in females than in males. To determine the role of the endothelium in this phenomenon, the effects of endothelium removal and inhibition of nitric oxide (NO) synthase and cyclooxygenase were examined in thoracic aortas prepared from male and female Sprague-Dawley rats and mounted for isometric tension recording. Maximal contractile response to AVP was substantially higher in female (4,232 +/- 316 mg/mg ring dry wt) than in male aortas (1,365 +/- 239; P < 0.01). Removal of the endothelium markedly potentiated maximal response to AVP in male aortas (4,100 +/- 422 mg/mg ring wt; P < 0.01); endothelium removal increased sensitivity but not maximal response in female aortas. Inhibition of NO synthase with NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA, 250 microM) doubled maximal contraction to AVP in male aortas (3,175 +/- 193 mg/mg ring wt; P < 0.01); L-NMMA increased sensitivity but not maximal response in female aortas. Inhibition of cyclooxygenase with indomethacin (10 microM) did not alter maximal response to AVP in male aortas but significantly attenuated responses of female aortas (2,816 +/- 306 mg/mg ring wt; P < 0.01). In contrast, maximal contractile response to phenylephrine hydrochloride (PE) was 40% higher in males than in females (P < 0.01); L-NMMA increased both the sensitivity and maximal response to PE to a greater extent in female (3,061 +/- 121 vs. 4,971 +/- 135 mg/mg ring wt; P < 0.01) than in male aortas (4,317 +/- 227 vs. 4,899 +/- 104 mg/mg ring wt; P < 0.01). (ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Contractile response of normotensive rat aorta to serum from salt-loaded Sprague-Dawley rats

1993 ◽  
Vol 423-423 (1-2) ◽  
pp. 161-163 ◽  
Author(s):  
O. A. Sofola ◽  
P. C. M. Obiefuna ◽  
B. J. Adegunloye
Keyword(s):  
Contractile Response ◽  
Rat Aorta ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats

Decreased vascular contractile and inositol phosphate responses in portal hypertensive rats

1995 ◽  
Vol 73 (3) ◽  
pp. 378-382 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yi-Tsau Huang ◽  
Chuang-Ye Hong ◽  
Pi-Chin Yu ◽  
Ming-Fang Lee ◽  
May C. M. Yang ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Contractile Response ◽  
Inositol Phosphates ◽  
Inositol Phosphate ◽  
Venous Pressure ◽  
Portal Vein Ligation ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Hypertensive Rats ◽  
Contractile Responses ◽  
Tail Artery

The purpose of this study was to investigate the vascular contractile and inositol phosphate responses in portal hypertensive rats. Portal hypertension was induced by partial portal vein ligation (PVL) in Sprague–Dawley rats. Sham-operated rats served as controls. Pressures, vasoconstrictor responses, and inositol phosphate responses were determined at 14 days after surgery. The portal venous pressure was significantly higher, while systemic arterial pressure and heart rate were lower, in PVL rats. Dose-dependent contractile responses were observed for both norepinephrine (1 × 10−8 – 3 × 10−6 M) and vasopressin (3 × 10−10 – 3 × 10−8 M) in the tail artery of both groups. The contractile response to norepinephrine was significantly decreased in PVL rats compared with controls at all doses. The contractile response to vasopressin was significantly decreased in PVL rats at higher doses. After myo-[3H]inositol incorporation in tail artery, the levels of 3H-labelled phosphatidylinositols (cpm/mg) were similar between the two groups. Norepinephrine (10−7 – 10−5 M) and vasopressin (10−10 – 10−8 M) dose dependently stimulated the 3H-labelled inositol phosphate production in the tail artery of both PVL and sham-operated rats. However, the response was significantly lower in PVL rats. The results suggested that the attenuation of vascular contractile responses in portal hypertension was reflected in the phosphoinositide messenger system.Key words: portal hypertension, inositol phosphates, phosphoinositide, tail artery, contractile response.

Sex Differences in the Response of Rat Heart Ventricle to Calcium

2004 ◽  
Vol 5 (4) ◽  
pp. 286-298 ◽  
Author(s):  
Dorie W. Schwertz ◽  
Jenny M. Beck ◽  
Jill M. Kowalski ◽  
James D. Ross
Keyword(s):  
Sex Differences ◽  
Papillary Muscle ◽  
Contractile Response ◽  
Ventricular Myocytes ◽  
Ventricular Myocardium ◽  
Contractile Proteins ◽  
Therapeutic Interventions ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
Whole Heart

Calcium (Ca2+ ) is a key mediator of myocardial function. Calcium regulates contraction, and disruption of myocellular Ca2+ handling plays a role in cardiac pathologies such as arrhythmias and heart failure. This investigation examines sex differences in sensitivity of the contractile proteins to Ca2+ and myofibrillar Ca2+ delivery in the ventricular myocardium. Sensitivity of contractile proteins to Ca2+ was measured in weight-matched male and female Sprague-Dawley rats using the skinned ventricular papillary muscle fiber and Ca2+ -stimulated Mg2+ -dependent adenosine triphosphatase (ATPase) activity methodologies. Calcium delivery was examined by measuring the contractile response to a range of extracellular Ca2+ concentrations in isolated ventricular myocytes, papillary muscle, and the isolated perfused whole heart. Findings from studies in the whole heart suggest that at a fixed preload, the male left ventricle generates more pressure than a female ventricle over a range of extracellular Ca2+ concentrations. In contrast, results from myocyte and papillary muscle studies suggest that females require less extracellular Ca2+ to elicit a similar contractile response. Results obtained from the 2 methods used to determine sex differences in Ca2+ sensitivity were equivocal. Further studies are required to elucidate sex differences in myocardial Ca2+ handling and the reasons for disparate results in different heart muscle preparations. The results of these studies will lead to the design of sex-optimized therapeutic interventions for cardiac disease.

Time course of airway hyperresponsiveness and remodeling induced by hyperoxia in rats

1995 ◽  
Vol 269 (2) ◽  
pp. L227-L233 ◽  
Author(s):  
J. L. Szarek ◽  
H. L. Ramsay ◽  
A. Andringa ◽  
M. L. Miller
Keyword(s):  
Smooth Muscle ◽  
Airway Hyperresponsiveness ◽  
Time Course ◽  
Electrical Field Stimulation ◽  
Maximal Response ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Electrical Field ◽  
Muscle Area ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
The Relationship

The purpose of this study was to answer two questions concerning hyperoxia-induced airway hyperresponsiveness: 1) What is the time course of the development of airway hyperresponsiveness? 2) What is the relationship between the increase in responsiveness and smooth muscle area? Segments of intrapulmonary bronchi were isolated from male Sprague-Dawley rats that had been exposed to 80-85% O2 for a period of 1, 3, 5, or 7 days and from aged-matched control animals that breathed room air. Hyperoxia increased the sensitivity (log concentration or frequency that elicited a half-maximal response) and reactivity (maximum tension developed) of the airways to electrical field stimulation (EFS) after 3, 5, and 7 days; sensitivity to acetylcholine was not affected, but reactivity was increased after 7 days. Hyperoxia increased smooth muscle area beginning 5 days after commencing the exposure. After normalizing tension responses to smooth muscle area, reactivity of the airways to the stimuli was not different between the two groups, but sensitivity to EFS was still increased. The increase in reactivity observed after 5 and 7 days of exposure can be explained by an increase in smooth muscle area that occurred at these time points. The fact that the sensitivity of the airways to EFS remained increased after normalization, together with the fact that the increase in airway responsiveness after 3 days of exposure occurred at a time when smooth muscle area was not different from control, suggests that mechanisms other than increased smooth muscle area contribute to the development of hyperoxia-induced airway hyperresponsiveness.

Androgen-receptor defect abolishes sex differences in nitric oxide and reactivity to vasopressin in rat aorta

2001 ◽  
Vol 91 (6) ◽  
pp. 2602-2610 ◽  
Author(s):  
John N. Stallone ◽  
Ronald L. Salisbury ◽  
Clifford T. Fulton
Keyword(s):  
Nitric Oxide ◽  
Androgen Receptor ◽  
Methyl Ester ◽  
Thoracic Aorta ◽  
Vascular Reactivity ◽  
Rat Aorta ◽  
Maximal Response ◽  
Maximal Contraction ◽  
Rat Thoracic Aorta ◽  
Recessive Defect

Contractions of rat thoracic aorta to vasopressin (VP) are threefold higher in females (F) than in males (M), primarily because nitric oxide (NO) attenuation of contraction is greater in M. To determine the role of the androgen receptor (AR) in this mechanism, vascular reactivity to VP was examined in thoracic aorta of the testicular-feminized male (Tfm) rat, which has an X-linked, recessive defect in AR function in affected M. Maximal contraction of normal aortas to VP was fourfold higher in F (4,128 ± 291 mg/mg ring wt) than in M (971 ± 133 mg); maximal response of Tfm (3,967 ± 253 mg) was similar to that of normal F. N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester increased maximal response to VP threefold in M but had no effect in F or Tfm. In contrast, maximal contraction of normal aortas to phenylephrine was 43% higher in M (4,011 ± 179 mg) than in F (2,809 ± 78 mg); maximal response of Tfm (2,716 ± 126 mg) was similar to that of normal F. N G-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester increased maximal response to phenylephrine by >50% in F and Tfm but had no effect in M. Maximal contractile response to 80 mM KCl did not differ among M, F, or Tfm. Thus androgens and normal vascular AR function are important in the greater NO-mediated attenuation of reactivity to VP in M than in F rat aorta, which may involve specific modulation of endothelial VP signal transduction pathways and NO release by androgens. These data also establish the importance of the Tfm rat as a model to study the effects of androgens on cardiovascular function.

Oxytocin resistance in Brattleboro rat adipocytes and comparative studies on insulin or oxytocin responsiveness in normal rat adipocytes

1983 ◽  
Vol 61 (11) ◽  
pp. 1418-1425 ◽  
Author(s):  
K. Hanif ◽  
H. J. Goren ◽  
R. M. Geonzon ◽  
K. Lederis ◽  
M. D. Hollenberg
Keyword(s):  
Calcium Concentration ◽  
Maximal Response ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Assay Medium ◽  
Rat Adipocytes ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
Normal Rat ◽  
Increased Sensitivity ◽  
Long Evans ◽  
Treatment Use

We have evaluated factors, other than genetic, which might be related to the lack of an oxytocin-mediated insulinlike response (glucose oxidation; lipogenesis) in adipocytes from Brattleboro rats, homozygous for the diabetes insipidus trait (HoDI rats). The manoeuvres used in an attempt to restore the glucoregulatory responses to oxytocin in HoDI cells (increased glucose in the fat pad digestion medium; increased calcium concentration in the oxidation assay; estrogen treatment; use of [1-14C]glucose as substrate; inclusion of adenosine in the assay medium; vasopressin replacement therapy) uniformly failed to result in oxytocin activation of HoDI adipocytes, in contrast, the contractile responses of estrogenized HoDI rat uteri were indistinguishable from those of estrogenized normal rats. We conclude that the nonresponsiveness of the Brattleboro adipocytes to the glucoregulatory actions of oxytocin is not due to factors related to the conditions of the bioassay. On the other hand, in normal fat cells (from Sprague–Dawley and Long Evans rats), oxytocin responsiveness was augmented by a number of the manoeuvres mentioned above, most notably by the inclusion of either calcium (10 mM) or adenosine (10 μM) in the assay medium. Nonetheless, the maximum oxytocin responsiveness of adipocytes from Long Evans or Sprague–Dawley rats, under all conditions of assay, was still only a fraction (less than 20%) of the maximal response to insulin. The effect of adenosine on oxytocin action (increased sensitivity, without an effect on the maximum response) is in keeping with the previously observed effects of this nucleoside on the action of insulin; our results thus pointed to a new parallel in the action of insulin and oxytocin.

Portal hypertension increases vasoconstrictor responsiveness of rat aorta

1999 ◽  
Vol 96 (1) ◽  
pp. 41-47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Claire CONNOLLY ◽  
Teresa CAWLEY ◽  
P. Aiden MCCORMICK ◽  
James R. DOCHERTY
Keyword(s):  
Portal Hypertension ◽  
Wistar Rats ◽  
Rat Aorta ◽  
Maximum Response ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Portal Vein Stenosis ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Hepatic Portal

We have examined the effects of pre-hepatic portal hypertension on the responsiveness of aorta from Wistar and Sprague–Dawley rats. Rats were made portal hypertensive by creating a calibrated portal vein stenosis, or sham operated. In rat aorta, there was no significant difference between portal hypertensive and sham-operated animals in the contractile potency of KCl, noradrenaline or phenylephrine. In aortas from Wistar rats, the maximum response to KCl (0.71±0.12 ;g) and noradrenaline (1.00±0.17 ;g) but not phenylephrine (0.86±0.10 ;g) in portal hypertensive animals was significantly increased compared with that in sham-operated animals (0.45±0.04 ;g, 0.57±0.07 ;g, 0.71±0.05 ;g respectively). In aortas from Sprague–Dawley rats, the maximum response to KCl (1.21±0.21 ;g) and phenylephrine (1.54±0.30 ;g) but not noradrenaline (0.93±0.09 ;g) in portal hypertensive animals was significantly increased compared with that in sham-operated animals (0.59±0.09 ;g, 0.76±0.11 ;g, 1.04±0.10 ;g respectively). There was no difference between portal hypertensive and sham-operated Wistar rats in the affinity or maximum number of binding sites for [3H]prazosin to α1-adrenoceptors in cardiac ventricular membranes. It is concluded that portal hypertension tends to produce an increase rather than a decrease in the contractile response to vasoconstrictors in aorta from both Wistar and Sprague–Dawley rats. This suggests that the diminished responsiveness to vasoconstrictors reported in portal hypertensive rats in vivo is not due to a diminished responsiveness at the level of the vascular smooth muscle.

Obesity-Induced Hypertension Develops in Young Rats Independently of the Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System

2006 ◽  
Vol 231 (3) ◽  
pp. 282-287 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anita D. Smith ◽  
Michael W. Brands ◽  
Mong-Heng Wang ◽  
Anne M. Dorrance
Keyword(s):  
Blood Pressure ◽  
Blood Glucose ◽  
Vascular Reactivity ◽  
Fasting Blood Glucose ◽  
Plasma Renin ◽  
Diet Group ◽  
Sprague Dawley ◽  
Diet Induced Obesity ◽  
Sprague Dawley Rats ◽  
Induced Hypertension

A correlation exists between obesity and hypertension. In the currently available models of diet-induced obesity, the treatment of rats with a high fat (HF) diet does not begin until adulthood. Our aim was to develop and characterize a model of pre-pubescent obesity-induced hypertension. Male Sprague-Dawley rats were fed a HF diet (35% fat) for 10 weeks, beginning at age 3 weeks. Blood pressure was measured by tail-cuff, and a terminal blood sample was obtained to measure fasting blood glucose, insulin, plasma renin, aldosterone, thiobarbitutic acid reactive substances (TBARS), and free 8-isoprostanes levels. The vascular reactivity in the aorta was assessed using a myograph. Blood pressure was increased in rats fed the HF diet (HF, 161 ± 2 mm Hg vs. control, 137 ± 2 mm Hg, P < 0.05). Blood glucose (HF, 155 ± 4 mg/dL vs. control, 123 ± 5 mg/dL, P < 0.05), insulin (HF, 232 ± 63 pM vs. control, 60 ± 11 pM, P < 0.05), TBARS (expressed as nM of malondialdehyde [MDA]/ml [HF, 1.8 ± 0.37 nM MDA/ml vs. control 1.05 ± 0.09 nM MDA/ml, P < 0.05]), and free 8-isoprostanes (HF, 229 ± 68 pg/ml vs. control, 112 ± 9 pg/ml, P < 0.05) levels were elevated in the HF diet group. Interestingly, plasma renin and aldosterone levels were not different between the groups. The maximum vasoconstriction to phenylephrine (10−4 M) was increased in the HF diet group (HF, 26.1 ± 1.5 mN vs. control 22.3 ± 1.2 mN, P < 0.05). In conclusion, pre-pubescent rats become hypertensive and have increased oxidative stress and enhanced vasoconstriction when fed a HF diet. Surprisingly, this occurs without the increase in renin or aldosterone levels seen in the adult models of diet-induced obesity.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document