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(Hypertension. 1999;34:1232.)
© 1999 American Heart Association, Inc.

Scientific Contributions

Different Mechanisms for Testosterone-Induced Relaxation of Aorta Between Normotensive and Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats

Hideo Honda; Tamao Unemoto; Hiroshi Kogo

From the Department of Pharmacology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, Tokyo, Japan.

Correspondence to Hideo Honda, PhD, Department of Pharmacology, Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science, 1432-1, Horinouchi, Hachioji, Tokyo 193-0392, Japan. Email hhonda{at}ps.toyaku.ac.jp

	Abstract

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Abstract—The tension in isolated ring preparations of the thoracic aortae from Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) was measured isometrically to study the differences in testosterone-induced relaxation between WKY and SHR aortic rings. Testosterone (9 to 300 µmol/L) induced a concentration-dependent relaxation in both WKY and SHR aortic rings, and the relaxation induced by testosterone was greater in SHR than WKY. The relaxation induced by testosterone was significantly reduced by denudation of endothelium in SHR but not WKY. Indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, and N^G-nitro-L-arginine, an inhibitor of nitric oxide (NO) synthase, showed little influence on the relaxation induced by testosterone in both WKY and SHR aortic rings. Glibenclamide, a selective inhibitor of ATP-sensitive potassium channels, significantly reduced the relaxation induced by testosterone in both WKY and SHR aortic rings, although the extent of reduction was greater in WKY than SHR. On the other hand, 4-aminopyridine, a selective inhibitor of voltage-dependent potassium channels, and tetraethylammonium, an inhibitor of calcium-activated potassium channels, significantly reduced the relaxation induced by testosterone in SHR but not WKY. These results suggest that the mechanisms of testosterone-induced vasorelaxation in both WKY and SHR involve, in part, ATP-sensitive potassium channels in the thoracic aortae and that in SHR aortic rings, testosterone may release endothelium-derived substances that may cause hyperpolarization of the cells by a mechanism that involves potassium channels. Moreover, the data show differences between WKY and SHR in the function of ATP-sensitive, voltage-dependent, and calcium-activated potassium channels.

Key Words: testosterone • endothelium • rats, inbred SHR • rats, inbred WKY • aorta • potassium channels

	Introduction

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Hypertension and coronary heart disease occur more frequently in men than in premenopausal women.¹ A decrease in LDLs and an increase in HDLs are considered to be one of the mechanisms by which estrogen reduces the risk factors of coronary heart disease.² Studies have reported that hypertensive men and premenopausal women have lower levels of plasma androgen but higher levels of plasma estrogen than controls.^{3 4}

Males become more hypertensive than females in genetic and nongenetic rat models of hypertension, and this sexual dimorphism is reduced by gonadectomy.^{5 6} Also, reports have indicated that androgen may contribute to the development of hypertension in spontaneous hypertensive rats (SHR) through sustained enhancement of tyrosine hydroxylase activity, which leads to increased norepinephrine (NE) levels in blood vessels.^{7 8} On the other hand, several reports consider the direct relaxing effects of estrogen on the vasculature in vitro,^{9 10 11 12 13} but few consider the direct relaxing effects of testosterone on the vasculature,^{14 15} and only normotensive animals have been used in these studies. Whether these sex steroids affect pharmacological or physiological actions on the vasculature is unknown. However, the purpose of the present study is to compare the effects of testosterone on vascular reactivity in thoracic aorta isolated from Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and SHR and to discover the difference between hypertension and normotension in the reactivity of the aortae.

	Methods

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Animals and Tissues
All procedures were performed in accordance with institutional guidelines for animal research at Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science. Ten-week-old male WKY/NCrj and SHR/NCrj, which were supplied by Charles River Japan, Yokohama, Japan, were anesthetized with ether and euthanatized by exsanguination. The thoracic aorta was isolated and placed in modified Krebs-Henseleit solution (pH 7.4) of the following composition (in mmol/L): NaCl 118.0, KCl 4.7, CaCl₂ 2.5, MgSO₄ 1.2, NaHCO₃ 25.0, and glucose11 at 37°C gassed with 95% O₂/5% CO₂. The aortic tissue was cleaned by removing connective tissue. The throracic aorta was cut into rings 4 mm long. Contraction and relaxation were measured by suspending the rings between 2 stainless-steel hooks, 1 of which was attached to the end of a bathing tube and the other to a force transducer (45196A NEC San-ei Instruments Inc). Isometric tension changes were recorded on a polygraph (LECT-HORIZ-8K NEC San-ei) as previously described.¹⁶

Relaxation of the Aorta Precontracted With NE
Each preparation was equilibrated in the 10-mL bathing solution for 90 to 120 minutes before the experiment. The resting tension was 0.7 g; this was found to be the optimal preload for force development in these blood vessels in preliminary studies. After the equilibration, the rings were exposed to KCl (50 mmol/L). When the contractile responses plateaued, the rings were rinsed with the solution and allowed to equilibrate for an additional 60 minutes before the application of NE (300 nmol/L). For the relaxation studies, the submaximal tone (80% of the maximal tone) was induced with NE (300 nmol/L) and then acetylcholine (ACh), sodium nitroprusside, (SNP), or testosterone was added in a cumulative fashion, and the relaxing effects were compared between endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded rings. Responses were expressed as percentage relaxation of NE-induced tone, and relaxation in the absence of drugs was taken to be 0%. To assess the role of endothelium in the vascular response to testosterone, some thoracic aortae were deendothelialized before being mounted by gentle rubbing of the luminal surface with a string.

Effects of Potassium Channel Blockers on Testosterone-Induced Relaxation
To determine the possible effects of ATP-sensitive, voltage-dependent, or calcium-activated potassium channels on testosterone-induced relaxation, glibenclamide, a selective inhibitor of ATP-sensitive potassium channels; 4-aminopyridine, a selective inhibitor of voltage-dependent potassium channels; or tetraethylammonium (TEA), an inhibitor of calcium-activated potassium channels, was added to the solution 5 minutes before treatment with NE.

Effects of N^G-nitro-L-arginine and Indomethacin on Testosterone-Induced Relaxation
N^G-nitro-L-arginine (L-NA), an inhibitor of NO synthase, or indomethacin, an inhibitor of cyclooxygenase, was added to the solution 5 minutes before treatment with NE to observe the effects on testosterone-induced relaxation.

Drugs and Chemicals
Testosterone and glibenclamide (Sigma Chemical Co) were dissolved in ethanol (final concentration of ethanol in bath 0.5%, with no influence on NE-induced contraction). NE hydrochloride, ACh chloride, SNP, 4-aminopyridine, TEA, and L-NA (Sigma) were dissolved in distilled water. Indomethacin was dissolved in 4% (wt/vol) NaHCO₃. Other chemicals were of analytical grade and obtained from Wako Pure Chemical Co Ltd.

Statistical Analysis
Values were expressed or plotted as mean±SE, and the statistical analysis was performed with a Student t test or multiple Tukey test. Differences were considered significant at P<0.05.

	Results

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Relaxation Induced by ACh and SNP
To clarify whether endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation in response to ACh and SNP, respectively, are different between 10-week-old SHR and WKY aortic rings, the relaxing effects of ACh and SNP were studied. ACh and SNP showed dose-dependent vascular relaxation in the thoracic aorta precontracted with NE in both WKY and SHR aortic rings (Figure 1). No significant difference was seen in either ACh- or SNP-induced relaxation between SHR and WKY aortic rings. Preincubation with NO synthase inhibitor L-NA (100 µmol/L) abolished ACh-induced relaxation but had no influence on SNP-induced relaxation (data not shown).

View larger version (14K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 1. Cumulative relaxation to ACh (A) and SNP (B) in aortic rings precontracted with NE in SHR and WKY. Each value is mean±SE from 6 to 11 experiments.

Relaxation Induced by Testosterone
Testosterone induced a dose-dependent vascular relaxation of thoracic aorta precontracted with NE in both WKY and SHR aortic rings, and the relaxation was greater in SHR than WKY aortic rings (Figure 2A). Significant differences were seen at concentrations of 75, 150, and 300 µmol/L between WKY and SHR aortic rings. Denudation of endothelium attenuated the relaxation induced by testosterone in SHR aortic rings, and significant differences were found at concentrations of 38, 75, and 150 µmol/L between the presence and the absence of endothelium (Figure 2B). In contrast to SHR aortic rings, no significant differences were seen in WKY aortic rings with and without endothelium (Figure 2C). In endothelium-intact rings, the ED₅₀ was significantly lower and the maximal relaxation was significantly greater in SHR than WKY aortic rings. However, in endothelium-denuded rings, no significant differences were found in the ED₅₀ value and the maximal relaxation between them. Also, significant differences were found in ED₅₀ values of SHR aortic rings with and without endothelium (Table 1). In this experiment, the tension induced by NE (300 nmol/L) was 252±34 and 233±24 mg in SHR and WKY aortic rings with endothelium, respectively. The tension induced by NE (300 nmol/L) was 256±77 and 313±42 mg in SHR and WKY aortic rings without endothelium, respectively. A significant difference (P<0.05) existed between WKY aortic rings with and without endothelium.

View larger version (19K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 2. Cumulative relaxation to testosterone in aortic rings precontracted with NE in SHR and WKY, together (A) and separately (B and C, respectively). Each value is mean±SE from 5 to 20 experiments. *P<0.05, **P<0.01, and ***P<0.001 from WKY; #P<0.05, ##P<0.01 from with endothelium.

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 1. Values of ED50 and Maximal Relaxation Induced by Testosterone of the Aortic Rings With and Without Endothelium Precontracted With NE

The time (in minutes) to reach the half-maximal and maximal relaxation induced by testosterone (75 µmol/L) was not different between SHR and WKY aortic rings, but a significant difference was seen in the maximal relaxation induced by testosterone (75 µmol/L) between SHR and WKY aortic rings (Table 2).

View this table: [in this window] [in a new window]   Table 2. Time to Reach Half-Maximal and Maximal Relaxation Induced by Testosterone 75 µmol/L

Effects of Glibenclamide, 4-Aminopyridine, and TEA on Testosterone-Induced Relaxation
To examine the involvement of potassium channels in the relaxant action of testosterone, the effects of pretreatment with glibenclamide, 4-aminopyridine, and TEA were investigated. Application of glibenclamide (3 µmol/L) significantly reduced testosterone-induced relaxation in both WKY and SHR aortic rings, and the reduction was greater in WKY than SHR (Figure 3A). 4-Aminopyridine (1 mmol/L) significantly reduced testosterone-induced relaxation only in SHR aortic rings and had no influence on the relaxation in WKY aortic rings (Figure 3B). TEA (1 mmol/L) significantly reduced testosterone-induced relaxation in SHR aortic rings and somewhat reduced the relaxation in WKY aortic rings (Figure 3C).

View larger version (20K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 3. Effects of potassium channel blockers glibenclamide (A), 4-aminopyradine (B), and TEA (C) on the relaxation induced by testosterone (75 µmol/L) in aortic rings precontracted with NE in SHR and WKY. Each value is mean±SE from 8 to 20 experiments. *P<0.05, **P<0.01 from SHR control; ##P<0.01 from WKY control.

Effects of L-NA and Indomethacin on Testosterone-Induced Relaxation
Preincubation with L-NA (100 µmol/L) or the prostaglandin synthase inhibitor indomethacin (10 µmol/L) did not significantly affect testosterone-induced relaxation in either WKY or SHR aortic rings (Figure 4).

View larger version (56K): [in this window] [in a new window]   Figure 4. Effects of L-NA and indomethacin on the relaxation induced by testosterone (75 µmol/L) in aortic rings precontracted with NE in SHR and WKY. Each value is mean±SE from 12 to 13 experiments.

	Discussion

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The present results have demonstrated that testosterone induces relaxation in precontracted thoracic aorta isolated from WKY and SHR and that the relaxation is significantly greater in SHR than WKY aortic rings (Figure 2A). ED₅₀ values, which were calculated as percentage of relaxation per dose of testosterone divided by maximal relaxation achieved in that arterial rings, were significantly lower in SHR than WKY aortic rings with endothelium (Table 1), which suggests that the effect of testosterone in absolute terms was the same as its effect in relative terms. Denudation of endothelium significantly reduced testosterone-induced relaxation in SHR aortic rings, but no difference was seen in the relaxation with and without endothelium in WKY aortic rings (Figures 2B and 2C). Furthermore, no significant differences were seen in the ED₅₀ value and the maximal relaxation between WKY and SHR endothelium-denuded rings (Table 1). These results indicate that the partially endothelium-dependent nature of testosterone-induced relaxation in SHR aortae differs from its endothelium-independent character in WKY aortae. As shown Figure 1, no significant difference was seen in ACh- and SNP-induced relaxation between 10-week-old SHR and WKY aortic rings, which suggests that the functions of NO synthesis in the endothelium and NO-mediated relaxation in the smooth muscle in our ring preparations were not different between SHR and WKY. This was consistent with a previous report in 10-week-old SHR and WKY.¹⁷ Testosterone-induced vasorelaxation occurs within minutes of treatment in either SHR or WKY aortic rings, and the rate of relaxation was not different between SHR and WKY aortic rings (Table 2), which suggests that vasorelaxation does not result from the genomic mechanisms of steroid hormone. One report has noted that the inhibition of aromatase and testosterone receptors did not affect testosterone-induced relaxation in rabbit coronary arteries and aorta.¹⁴ These results suggest the existence of nongenomic mechanisms of testosterone in either SHR and WKY aortic rings. Estrogen-induced vasorelaxation^{9 10 11 12 13} was also too rapid for the classic genomic mechanism of steroid hormone action. The rapid vasorelaxing effects of estrogen have been attributed to the inhibition of voltage-dependent calcium channels in the vascular smooth muscle cell.^{10 11} In contrast to estrogen, the rapid vasorelaxing effects of testosterone have not been attributed to the inhibition of calcium influx in the vascular smooth muscle cell.¹⁴ The concentrations of testosterone (38 µmol/L) that induced the relaxation of SHR and WKY thoracic aortae are almost the same as those in the previous reports in rabbit coronary arteries¹⁴ and Sprague-Dawley rat aorta,¹⁵ and these concentrations are 1000 times higher than those found in normal men (35 nmol/L)¹⁸ and SHR (17±3 nmol/L from 9 rats in our laboratory). It is well known that a disparity exists between plasma levels of testosterone and the levels that induce in vitro vasorelaxation.¹⁴

L-NA, which has been reported to inhibit endothelial NO synthase,¹⁹ failed to affect the relaxation induced by testosterone in SHR and WKY aortic rings. Further, indomethacin, which inhibits the synthesis of prostaglandin,^{20 21} had little influence on the relaxation induced by testosterone in SHR and WKY aortic rings (Figure 4). These results indicate that the release of vasodilator NO and prostanoids is not involved in testosterone-induced relaxation in SHR and WKY aortic rings. Our present results are in accordance with recent results in rabbit aorta and coronary artery that indicate that vasodilator NO and prostanoids are not candidate contributors to testosterone-induced relaxation.¹⁴ However, Costarella et al¹⁵ indicated that L-NA methyl ester, an inhibitor of NO synthase, suppressed the inhibitory effect of testosterone on phenylephrine-induced contraction, which suggests that the vasorelaxing effect of testosterone in the endothelium-intact aorta from Sprague-Dawley rat can be attributed to the release of NO. These discrepancies may be due to differences in experimental conditions, species, or strains.

Glibenclamide, an inhibitor of ATP-sensitive potassium channels,²² significantly reduced testosterone-induced relaxation in both SHR and WKY aortic rings, and the reduction was greater in WKY than SHR aortic rings. Notably, the dependence of arterial smooth muscle on open of ATP-sensitive potassium channels is greater in WKY than SHR in testosterone-induced relaxation. We suggest that spontaneous hypertension causes dysfunction of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in arterial smooth muscle. These results appear to show that ATP-sensitive potassium channels play an important role in the pathophysiology of hypertension in SHR. 4-Aminopyridine, an inhibitor of voltage-dependent potassium channels,²³ significantly reduced testosterone-induced relaxation in SHR but not WKY aortic rings. TEA, which blocks large-conductance calcium-activated potassium channels when used at appropriate concentrations,²⁴ significantly reduced testosterone-induced relaxation in SHR aortic rings. However, TEA could not significantly reduce testosterone-induced relaxation in WKY aortic rings. These results also suggest that the mechanism of testosterone-induced relaxation mainly involves ATP-sensitive potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle in WKY. In SHR, testosterone may release, in part, endothelium-derived substances that may cause hyperpolarization of the underlying smooth muscle cells by a mechanism that involves both voltage-dependent and calcium-activated potassium channels. The relaxation induced by testosterone was greater in aortic rings from SHR than WKY, which suggests that both voltage-dependent and calcium-activated potassium channels may take part in the ability of testosterone to induce relaxation in aortic rings from SHR. Furthermore, because of the dysfunction of ATP-sensitive potassium channels in vascular smooth muscle, both voltage-dependent and calcium-activated potassium channels may be modified and contribute to the suppression of the development of a severe hypertension in SHR.

In conclusion, we have demonstrated that testosterone induces both endothelium-dependent and -independent relaxation in SHR aortic rings but only endothelium-independent relaxation in WKY aortic rings. Testosterone-induced relaxation is greater in SHR than WKY. The mechanism may involve vascular smooth muscle potassium channels in both SHR and WKY. Furthermore, testosterone-induced relaxation in SHR appears to be mediated by the release of endothelium-derived substances that may open both voltage-dependent and calcium-activated potassium channels in the vascular smooth muscle.

	Acknowledgments

 
The excellent technical assistance of Kazumi Inoue is gratefully acknowledged. We wish to thank Prof Seiichi Saida of Tokyo University of Pharmacy and Life Science for a critical proofreading of the manuscript.

Received April 19, 1999; first decision May 5, 1999; accepted July 19, 1999.

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This Article Abstract Full Text (PDF) Alert me when this article is cited Alert me if a correction is posted Citation Map Services Email this article to a friend Similar articles in this journal Similar articles in PubMed Alert me to new issues of the journal Download to citation manager Request Permissions Citing Articles Citing Articles via HighWire Citing Articles via Google Scholar Google Scholar Articles by Honda, H. Articles by Kogo, H. Search for Related Content PubMed PubMed Citation Articles by Honda, H. Articles by Kogo, H.