Endothelin-1 induces vasoconstriction and nitric oxide release via endothelin ETB receptors in isolated perfused rat liver

Endothelin-1 (0.1, 1 and 10 nM) induced a significant increase in portal pressure and nitric oxide (NO) release in the isolated rat Liver. The endothelin ETB receptor agonist, IRL 1620 (Suc-[Glu(9),Ala(11,15)]endothelin-1-(8-21)) (0.1, I and 10 nM) also elicited a marked increase in portal pressure and NO release. The potency of endotheIin-1 was higher than that of IRL 1620. The endothelin ETA receptor antagonist, BQ-123 (cyclo(-D-Trp-D-Asp-Pro-D-Val-Leu)) (1 and 10 mu M), had no effect on the endothelin-l-induced change in portal pressure and NO current. In contrast, the endothelin ETB receptor antagonist, BQ-788 (N-cis-2,6-dimethylpiperidinocarbonyl-L-gamma-methyl-leucyl-D-1-methoxycarbonyltryptophanyl-D-norleucine) (1 and 10 nM), attenuated the endothelin-l-induced change in portal pressure and NO current. Administration of N-G-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA), a NO synthase inhibitor, completely abolished the enodthelin-1- or IRL 1620-induced NO release. L-NMMA enhanced the increase in portal pressure and decrease in O-2 consumption caused by endothelin-l. These results indicated that endothelin ETB receptors mediate both vasoconstriction and NO release and that NO plays a significant role in stabilizing microcirculation in isolated perfused rat liver.