The role of Rho-kinase and calcium ions in constriction triggered by ET-1

Publication date: September 2018Source: Microvascular Research, Volume 119Author(s): Michał Wiciński, Katarzyna Szadujkis-Szadurska, Mateusz M. Węclewicz, Bartosz Malinowski, Grzegorz Matusiak, Maciej Walczak, Eryk Wódkiewicz, Grzegorz Grześk, Katarzyna Pawlak-OsińskaAbstractEndothelin-1 (ET-1) is one of the key factors regulating tension of smooth muscles in blood vessels. It is believed that ET-1 plays an important role in pathogenesis of hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases; therefore, research in order to limit ET-1-mediated action is still in progress. The main objective of this paper was to evaluate the role of Rho-kinase in the ET-1-induced constriction of arteries. The analysis also included significance of intra- and extracellular pool of calcium ions in constriction triggered by ET-1. The studies were performed on perfused Wistar rat tail arteries. Concentration response curve (CRC) was determined for ET-1 in the presence of increased concentrations of Rho-kinase inhibitor (Y-27632) and IP3-receptor antagonist (2APB), both in reference to constriction triggered by solely ET-1. Afterwards, the influence of calcium ions present in the perfusion fluid was evaluated in terms of the effect triggered by 2APB and occurring in arteries constricted by ET-1. ET-1, in concentration dependent manner, leads to increase in perfusion pressure. Y-27632 and 2APB lead to shift of the concentration response curve for ET-1 to the right with simultaneously lowered maximum eff...
Source: Microvascular Research - Category: Biochemistry Source Type: research