Contribution of endogenous endothelin in the enhanced coronary constriction in DOCA-salt hypertensive rats

Objective The present study was performed to evaluate the hypersensitivity to vasoconstrictors in coronaries from uninephrectomized hypertensive rats (HTR), after a 2-week deoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt treatment in comparison with uninephrectomized age-matched normotensive rats (NTR). Design and methods Coronary resistance was recorded from isolated Langendorff hearts perfused at a constant flow rate. Results Cumulative dose-response curves to vasopressin, angiotensin II and endothelin in HTR showed an enhanced maximal response, in comparison with NTR (P < 0.05). In contrast, the sensitivity to U-46619, a thromboxane-mimetic agonist, was reduced in HTR in comparison with NTR (P < 0.05). In the presence of ETA/ETB-receptor antagonists, LU-302 872 (10 mumol/l) and PD-142 893 (0.1 - 1 mumol/l), cumulative dose-response curves to vasopressin and angiotensin II showed a reduced maximal response in HTR compared with NTR (P < 0.05). LU-302 872 did not change the responsiveness to U-46619 in both groups. Perfusion of hearts from NTR with a subpressor concentration of endothelin-1 (10 pmol/l) potentiated the responsiveness to vasopressin and angiotensin II, but not that of U-46619 (P < 0.05). Hypertension did not alter the dose-response curves obtained with phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, an activator of protein kinase C, Bay K 8644, a L-type calcium-channel activator, and KCl. Measurement of endothelin release by radioimmunoassay in the coronary effluent, before and during dose-response curves to vasopressin, angiotensin II and U-46619, showed no significant increase by the vasoconstrictors, although basal endogenous endothelin was increased in HTR (P < 0.05). Conclusion Two-week DOCA-salt hypertension is associated with enhanced coronary vasoconstrictor effects of endothelin, vasopressin and angiotensin II. An increased basal release of endogenous endothelin in coronaries from HTR, along with an enhanced responsiveness of the coronary smooth muscle to endothelin, may contribute to the potentiated response to vasoconstrictors. L-type calcium-channels and protein kinase C are not involved in this increased coronary reactivity to vasoconstrictors in HTR. (C) 2003 Lippincott Williams Wilkins.