Involvement of G proteins and Rho kinase in α1-Adrenoceptor mediated contractions of rat portal vein.

Contractions of rat portal vein in response to the α1-adrenoceptor agonist phenylephrine consist of phasic contractions at low concentrations, with tonic contractions superimposed at higher concentrations. The α1D-adrenoceptor antagonist BMY7378 (7.0, -log M) did not affect phasic or tonic contractions to phenylephrine. The relatively non-selective α1-adrenoceptor antagonist prazosin (7.5) shifted equally the potencies of phenylephrine at producing phasic and tonic contractions, with pKB values of 8.85 and 8.83 (-log M), respectively. The α1A-adrenoceptor antagonist RS100329 (8.5) produced a significantly greater shift in phenylephrine potency for phasic (pKB of 10.51) than tonic contractions (pKB of 9.78). Prazosin was less effective than RS100329 at reducing the effects of phenylphrine on frequency of phasic contractions. The Rho kinase inhibitor fasudil (5.0) did not affect phasic contractions to phenylephrine, but significantly reduced tonic contractions. It is concluded that there is no evidence for involvement of α1D-adrenoceptors in responses of rat portal vein to phenylephrine, but phasic responses involve predominantly α1A-adrenoceptors. Tonic responses may involve predominantly α1B-adrenoceptors, and are at least partly mediated by mechanisms involving Rho kinase sensitive to fasudil.

Abstract 15161: Adiponectin Exerts a Protective Role Against Vascular Remodeling During Hypertension

Introduction: Hypertension is associated with leptin production and ROS formation in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC) and contributes to vascular remodeling. Adiponectin (ADQ) has a cardioprotective role on the heart, but the protective role of ADQ on VSMC during hypertension has not been fully elucidated yet. Hypothesis: Mechanical stretch/hypertension is associated with a low ADQ/leptin ratio in VSMC, leading to VSMC remodeling. Methods: To mimic hypertension, the rat portal vein was cultured either mechanically stretched with 1.2 gram weights (due to the force-length relationship normalized to the human force of stretch during hypertension and the longitudinal orientation of its VSMC) or left unstretched. ADQ, leptin, eNOS, p-ERK1/2 and p-AKT expression in VSMC was evaluated by Western blot. The protective effect of adiponectin (5-10 μg/ml; 15 min-24 hr) was investigated on ROS formation by DHE staining and on hypertrophy by protein synthesis via [ 3 H]leucine incorporation. Results: Mechanical stretch for 24 hr reduced the expression of ADQ in VSMC (0.49 ± 0.08 fold, n=6, p<0.05) and increased leptin (2.51 ± 0.39 fold, n=6, p<0.05) compared to controls. Stretch (24 hr) decreased ADQ mRNA expression by 0.31 ± 0.11 fold (n=7, p<0.05) and ADQ receptor R2 by 0.51 ± 0.21 fold (n=7, p<0.05) but had no effect on ADQ receptor R1 (n=8). This effect of stretch was associated with increased protein synthesis by 1.39 ± 0.06 fold (n=6, p<0.05), while exogenous ADQ significantly inhibited stretch-induced hypertrophy (n=6, p<0.05). Stretch (15 min) increased p-ERK1/2 and p-AKT by 2.10 ± 0.25 and 4.03 ± 0.61 fold respectively (n=5, p<0.05), but ADQ reduced p-ERK1/2 and p-AKT by 0.82 ± 0.26 and 0.55 ± 0.25 fold respectively (n=3, p<0.05) in stretched vessels. eNOS expression decreased by 0.70 ± 0.06 fold (n=5, p<0.05) after stretch for 24 hr, while ADQ increased eNOS in stretched veins by 2.02 ± 0.41 fold (n=3, p<0.05). Stretch for 1 hr increased ROS by 5.69 ± 0.13 fold (n=3, p<0.05), whereas ADQ significantly inhibited ROS in stretched vessels (1.71 ± 0.22 fold, n=3). Conclusion: Mechanical stretch reduces the ADQ/leptin ratio in VSMC. ADQ plays a protective role against vascular remodeling during hypertension by affecting eNOS, ERK, AKT, ROS and hypertrophy.