Greg G. Geary

Abstract

Electrical field stimulation (EES) of preconstricted arteries causes relaxation. This relaxation is of either neuronal, vascular smooth muscle, and/or endothelial origins. We have shown that EFS-induced relaxation of intact, phenylephrine (PE) preconstricted rat tail artery (RTA) rings was dependent upon the extracellular concentration of Ca++. Inhibiting either nitric oxide (NO) synthesis with N-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), or the synthesis of cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) with methylene blue (MB) reduced the EFS-induced relaxation. In addition, inhibition of KCa++-dependent hyperpolarization with tetraethylammonium (TEA), or KATP hyperpolarization with BaCl2 or glibenclamide also reduced EFS-induced relaxation. L-arginine reversed the effect of L-NAME. When either MB and KCl, L-NAME and KCl, or L-NAME and BaCl2 were used, the EFS-induced relaxation was completely inhibited. The EFS-induced relaxation was not inhibited by tetrodotoxin, a voltage-operated Na+ channel antagonist. EFS-induced relaxation was partially inhibited by endothelium denuding. The remaining EFS-induced relaxation in the denuded RTA was inhibited by BaCl2 and KCl. EFS-induced relaxation in the intact, KCl preconstricted RTA was inhibited by L-NAME and MB. Effluent from freshly isolated, bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAEC) exposed to EES relaxed denuded RTA and could be blocked by L-NAME, MB, KCl, and TEA. L-arginine reversed the effect of L-NAME as in the ring experiments. EFS-induced relaxation of intact, pressurized, and PE preconstricted RTA was frequency and voltage-dependent, and inhibited by either L-NAME, BaCl2, or the voltage-operated Ca++ channel antagonist diltiazem. As in all the other studies, L-arginine reversed the effect of L-NAME. Membrane potential recordings of EFS-induced relaxation showed a mean membrane hyperpolarization of -20 mV simultaneously with relaxation. A positive correlation was shown to exist between the initial level of tone and the EFS-induced relaxation. It can be concluded that the vascular smooth muscle contains an endogenous hyperpolarization mechanism that regulates initial changes in arterial tone. Higher arterial tension causes the release of NO and another hyperpolarization factor from the endothelium which function to further regulate arterial tone.

LLU Discipline

Physiology

Department

Physiology

School

Graduate School

First Advisor

Ramon R. Gonzales, Jr.

Second Advisor

George Maeda

Third Advisor

Robert W. Teel

Fourth Advisor

Raymond G. Hall, Jr.

Fifth Advisor

Marvin A. Peters

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy (PhD)

Degree Level

Ph.D.

Year Degree Awarded

1994

Date (Title Page)

6-1994

Language

English

Library of Congress/MESH Subject Headings

Muscle, Smooth, Vascular -- drug effects; Rats; Endothelium-Derived Relaxing Factor -- pharmacology Electronic Stimulation; Muscle Relaxation; Arteries -- physiology

Type

Dissertation

Page Count

viii; 118

Digital Format

PDF

Digital Publisher

Loma Linda University Libraries

Usage Rights

This title appears here courtesy of the author, who has granted Loma Linda University a limited, non-exclusive right to make this publication available to the public. The author retains all other copyrights.

Collection

Loma Linda University Electronic Theses and Dissertations

Collection Website

http://scholarsrepository.llu.edu/etd/

Repository

Loma Linda University. Del E. Webb Memorial Library. University Archives

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