(Hypertension. 2000;36:575.)
© 2000 American Heart Association, Inc.
Scientific Contributions |
Renin-Angiotensin System Blockade Improves Endothelial Dysfunction in Hypertension
From the Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Fukuoka, Japan.
Correspondence to Koji Fujii, MD, PhD, Department of Medicine and Clinical Science, Graduate School of Medical Sciences, Kyushu University, Maidashi 3-1-1, Higashi-ku, Fukuoka, 812-8582, Japan. E-mail fujii{at}intmed2.med.kyushu-u.ac.jp
 |
Abstract |
|---|
 Top Abstract IntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
Abstract—Angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor improves the impaired hyperpolarization and relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) via endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF) in arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). We tested whether the angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist also improves EDHF-mediated responses and whether the combined AT1 receptor blockade and ACE inhibition exert any additional effects. SHR were treated with either AT1 receptor antagonist TCV-116 (5 mg · kg-1 · d-1) (SHR-T), enalapril (40 mg · kg-1 · d-1) (SHR-E), or their combination (SHR-T&E) from 8 to 11 months of age. Age-matched, untreated SHR (SHR-C) and Wistar Kyoto (WKY) rats served as controls (n=8 to 12 in each group). Three treatments lowered blood pressure comparably. EDHF-mediated hyperpolarization to ACh in mesenteric arteries in the absence or presence of norepinephrine was significantly improved in all treated SHR. In addition, the hyperpolarization in the presence of norepinephrine was significantly greater in SHR-T&E than in SHR-E (ACh 10-5 mol/L with norepinephrine: SHR-C -7; SHR-T -19; SHR-E -15; SHR-T&E -22; WKY -14 mV). EDHF-mediated relaxation, assessed in the presence of indomethacin and NG-nitro-L-arginine, was markedly improved in all treated SHR. Hyperpolarization and relaxation to levcromakalim, a direct opener of ATP-sensitive K+-channel, were similar in all groups. These findings suggest that AT1 receptor antagonists are as effective as ACE inhibitors in improving EDHF-mediated responses in SHR. The beneficial effects of the combined AT1 receptor blockade and ACE inhibition appears to be for the most part similar to those of each intervention.
Key Words: endothelium-derived factors • angiotensin • arteries • hypertension • drug therapy
|
Introduction |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
Endothelial cells play an important role in the regulation of vascular tone through the release of relaxing factors such as nitric oxide (NO),1 prostacyclin, and endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF).2 3 4 EDHF relaxes underlying smooth muscle cells by producing membrane hyperpolarization through the opening of K+ channels.4 5 6 7 The identity of EDHF is yet to be determined, but possible candidates include cytochrome P450-derived arachidonic acid metabolites,8 9 K+ itself,10 or the electrical couplings via gap junctions.11
Endothelium-dependent relaxation is impaired in hypertension.7 12 13 14 Although the mechanisms for this impairment seem to vary, we have shown that the impaired EDHF-mediated hyperpolarization partly accounts for the decreased endothelium-dependent relaxation in mesenteric arteries of adult spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR).7 14 Furthermore, antihypertensive treatment with either the angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor enalapril or a combination of hydralazine and hydrochlorothiazide restores EDHF-mediated responses.15 In addition, enalapril tends to be more beneficial than the traditional combination therapy, despite a comparable blood pressure reduction,15 which raises the possibility that the renin-angiotensin system blockade, in addition to lowering blood pressure, may also be important in reversing endothelial dysfunction in hypertension.16
Although both the angiotensin type 1 (AT1) receptor antagonist and ACE inhibitor lower blood pressure by blocking the renin-angiotensin system,17 each agent has some specific properties:18 19 20 21 eg, bradykinin accumulation by ACE inhibitors and possible stimulation of angiotensin type 2 (AT2) receptors with AT1 receptor antagonists. Furthermore, several clinical studies have demonstrated the beneficial effects of a combination of ACE inhibitors and AT1 receptor antagonists.22 23 24 Although several studies have found that AT1 receptor antagonists as well as ACE inhibitors improve endothelial function in hypertension,25 26 no study has evaluated the effects of AT1 receptor antagonists on EDHF-mediated hyperpolarization per se, and little is known as to the effects of the combination of ACE inhibitor and AT1 receptor antagonist on endothelial function. The present study tested whether the treatment of SHR with AT1 receptor antagonists can also improve EDHF-mediated responses and whether the combination of an AT1 receptor antagonist and an ACE inhibitor exerts any additional effects on endothelial function.
|
Methods |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
Handling of Animals
This study was approved by the Committee on the Ethics of Animal Experimentation of the Kyushu University (Fukuoka, Japan). Male SHR/Izm and age-matched Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY)/Izm (Disease Model Cooperative Research Association, Kyoto, Japan)27 were fed a standard rat chow and had free access to tap water. At the age of 8 to 9 months, SHR were assigned to 1 control (SHR-C) and 3 treatment groups. The SHR were treated with either TCV-116 (Takeda) 5 mg · kg-1 · d-1 (SHR-T), an AT1 receptor antagonist,17 enalapril (Sigma Chemical Co) 40 mg · kg-1 · d-1 (SHR-E), or their combination (SHR-T&E) for 3 months. All drugs were administered through drinking water. Water intake was checked 3 times a week, and drug concentrations were adjusted to achieve the daily doses that are listed above. The dose of each agent was based on preliminary experiments in which the blood pressures of SHR were lowered to comparable extents. Untreated WKY served as normotensive controls. There were 8 to 12 rats in each group.
Systolic blood pressure was measured in conscious rats by the tail-cuff method before and at the end of the treatment. The drugs were withdrawn 2 days before the experiments. The rats were anesthetized with ether, and they were killed by decapitation. The main branch of the mesenteric artery was excised and bathed in cold Krebs solution that had the following composition (in mmol/L): Na+ 137.4, K+ 5.9, Mg2+ 1.2, Ca2+ 2.5, HCO3- 15.5, H2PO4- 1.2, Cl- 134, and glucose 11.5. The artery was cut into rings of 3 mm and 1.2 mm for the electrophysiological and tension experiments, respectively.
Electrophysiological Experiments
Transverse strips cut along the longitudinal axis of the rings
were placed in the experimental chamber with the
endothelial layer up. Tissues were carefully pinned to
the rubber base attached to the bottom of the 2-mL chamber and
superfused with 36°C Krebs solution aerated with 95%
O2-5% CO2 (pH 7.3 to 7.4)
at the rate of 3 mL/min. After equilibration for at least 60 minutes,
the membrane potentials of the vascular smooth muscle cells were
recorded, as described previously.7 14 Briefly,
conventional glass capillary microelectrodes filled with 3 mol/L KCl
and with a tip resistance of 50 to 80 mol/L
were inserted into the
smooth muscle cell from the endothelial side.
Electrical signals were amplified through an amplifier (MEZ-7200, Nihon
Koden), monitored on an oscilloscope (VC-11, Nihon Koden), and
recorded with a pen recorder (RJG-4002, Nihon Koden).
Each dose of acetylcholine (ACh) (Sigma Chemical Co) was applied separately after an appropriate washout period. Levcromakalim (a gift from SmithKline Beecham pharmaceuticals, Worthing, UK), a direct activator of ATP-sensitive K+ channels, was applied in a cumulative manner.
Isometric Tension Recording
Rings with intact endothelium were placed in the
5-mL organ chambers filled with 36°C Krebs solution aerated with 93%
O2-7% CO2 (pH 7.4). Two
fine, stainless steel wires were placed through the lumen of the ring;
one was anchored, and the other was attached to the mechano-transducer
(UM-203, Kishimoto). After equilibration for 60 minutes at an optimal
resting tension of 1.0g,7 14 the
rings were challenged with 40 mmol/L KCl until the contractions
became steady. Subsequently, the rings were allocated to one of the
following treatments: (1) control; (2) indomethacin
(Sigma) 10-5 mol/L; (3)
indomethacin and
NG-nitro-L-arginine
(L-NNA) (Sigma) 10-4
mol/L; and (4) indomethacin, L-NNA, and 20 mmol/L
KCl. The rings were contracted with
10-5 mol/L
norepinephrine (NE) (Sigma), and relaxations to ACh were
studied by adding the drug cumulatively.
Some rings were contracted with 77 mmol/L KCl solution in the presence of 10-5 mol/L indomethacin, and relaxations to ACh were observed. Relaxations to levcromakalim and sodium nitroprusside (Sigma) were studied in rings contracted with 10-5 mol/L NE in the presence of 10-5 mol/L indomethacin. The extent of the relaxation was expressed as the percentage of the initial contraction.
Drugs and Solutions
The solutions, which contained 20 mmol/L or 77 mmol/L
KCl, were obtained by the equimolar replacement of NaCl by KCl in Krebs
solution. Indomethacin and TCV-116 were dissolved in
10 mmol/L Na2CO3,
L-NNA in 0.2 mol/L HCl, and levcromakalim in 90% ethanol.
Statistical Analysis
Results are given as mean±SEM. Concentration-response curves of
relaxation were analyzed by a 2-way ANOVA followed by the
Scheffé test for multiple comparisons. The concentrations of
agonists that caused half-maximal responses (EC50
value) were calculated with a nonlinear regression analysis.
The EC50 values were expressed as the negative
logarithm of the molar concentration (pD2
values). Other variables were analyzed by 1-way ANOVA
followed by the Scheffé’s test for multiple comparisons or a
paired Student’s t test. A level of P<0.05 was
considered statistically significant.
|
Results |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
Systolic Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, and Body Weight
TCV-116, enalapril, or their combination significantly lowered the blood pressure of SHR to comparable extents (Table 1). Systolic blood pressure was lower in SHR-T and SHR-T&E than in WKY after treatment. Body weight was significantly smaller in SHR than in WKY both before and after treatment. Body weight was smaller in SHR-T&E than in SHR-C after treatment.
|
Resting Membrane Potential in Mesenteric Arteries
The resting membrane potential of the mesenteric artery was
significantly less negative in SHR-C (-45.7±1.4 mV) than in WKY
(-49.6±0.5 mV, P<0.05). The resting membrane potential
was more negative in treated SHR (SHR-T -53.4±0.8; SHR-E -49.8±1.1
mV; SHR-T&E -53.7±0.8 mV) than in SHR-C (P<0.05,
respectively). Furthermore, the membrane was more negative in SHR-T and
SHR-T&E than in WKY (P<0.05, respectively).
Endothelium-Dependent
Hyperpolarization in Mesenteric Arteries
The pD2 and the maximal values of
hyperpolarization to ACh applied in the resting
state of the membrane are shown in Table 2. The maximal
hyperpolarization to ACh was significantly less in
SHR-C than in WKY (P<0.05). All treatments significantly
improved the maximal hyperpolarization to ACh
compared with SHR-C (P<0.05). There was no significant
difference in ACh-induced hyperpolarization among
treated SHR and WKY, although the maximal
hyperpolarization in SHR-T&E tended to be greater
than in other groups. The pD2 values did not
differ among the study groups.
|
Representative tracings and summarized data of ACh-induced hyperpolarization under conditions of depolarization with 10-5 mol/L NE are shown in Figure 1. Vessels were preincubated with 10-5 mol/L indomethacin to eliminate the possible depolarizing actions of cyclooxygenase products known to be released under these conditions.7 13 ACh-induced hyperpolarization in the presence of NE was attenuated in SHR-C compared with WKY (P<0.05). All treatments improved ACh-induced hyperpolarizations compared with SHR-C, and the hyperpolarization in SHR-T and SHR-E was similar to that in WKY. Furthermore, ACh-induced (10-5 mol/L) hyperpolarization in SHR-T&E was significantly greater than that in SHR-E or WKY (Figure 1B).
|
P<0.05
vs WKY; 
P<0.05 vs SHR-E.
Endothelium-Dependent Relaxation in Mesenteric
Arteries
In mesenteric arterial rings precontracted with
10-5 mol/L NE in the
absence of indomethacin
(10-5 mol/L), ACh produced
a dose-dependent relaxation in WKY, but produced minimal relaxation in
SHR-C (Figure 2A, Table 3). Indomethacin markedly
augmented relaxation in SHR-C, but the relaxation was still smaller in
SHR-C that in WKY (Figure 2B, Table 3). All
antihypertensive treatments improved ACh-induced relaxation as compared
with that in SHR-C in the absence or presence of
indomethacin, and the relaxation in treated SHR was
comparable to that in WKY (Figure 2A, B, Table 3).
|
|
Additional incubation with 10-4 mol/L L-NNA virtually abolished the relaxation in SHR-C but not in WKY (Figure 2C, Table 3). The residual relaxation was abolished by a high KCl solution (20 mmol/L). All 3 treatments markedly restored the L-NNA–resistant relaxation to ACh, and the relaxation in treated SHR was even more pronounced than that in WKY (Figure 2C, Table 3).
When rings pretreated with indomethacin were contracted with 77 mmol/L KCl, no difference was found in ACh-induced relaxations among the five groups (pD2 values; SHR-C 6.5±0.1, SHR-T 6.5±0.1, SHR-E 6.6±0.2, SHR-T&E 6.7±0.1, and WKY 6.4±0.1, ns: maximal relaxation; SHR-C 59.2±4.0, SHR-T 62.7±3.1, SHR-E 54.9±5.7, SHR-T&E 61.6±3.5, and WKY 63.0±3.2%, ns). This relaxation was abolished by further incubation with 10-4 mol/L L-NNA (data not shown).
Endothelium-Independent
Hyperpolarization and Relaxation in Mesenteric
Arteries
Levcromakalim produced a comparable degree of
hyperpolarization in all groups (Table 2).
The levcromakalim-induced relaxation in rings precontracted with
10-5 mol/L NE was also
similar among the 5 groups (Table 3).
The maximum relaxations to sodium nitroprusside, an NO-donor, in rings precontracted with 10-5 mol/L NE did not differ significantly among the 5 groups, although the sensitivity to sodium nitroprusside tended to be lower in SHR-C than in other groups (Table 3).
Relationships Between the Amplitude of Acetylcholine-Induced
(10-5 mol/L)
Hyperpolarization and Systolic Blood
Pressure
There was a significant negative relationship between the
amplitude of ACh-induced (10-5 mol/L)
hyperpolarization in the presence of NE and
systolic blood pressure when all study groups were included in
the analysis (Figure 3A).
However, no significant relationship was observed between these
parameters in the subgroup of treated SHR and WKY (Figure 3B).
|
|
Discussion |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
The present study has for the first time demonstrated that chronic treatment with an AT1 receptor antagonist as well as an ACE inhibitor restores impaired EDHF-mediated hyperpolarization and relaxation in SHR. The combined AT1 receptor blockade and ACE inhibition appears to exert similar effects on endothelial function to those of each intervention, although the possibility remains that this combination might be more beneficial than ACE inhibition alone in regard to EDHF-mediated hyperpolarization. On the other hand, the NO-mediated relaxation appeared to be preserved in SHR and was not modulated by antihypertensive treatment.
Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization to ACh in the rat mesenteric artery is mediated by EDHF but not by NO or prostacyclin.7 28 We have previously demonstrated that chronic treatment with either the ACE inhibitor enalapril or a combination of hydralazine and hydrochlorothiazide restores the impaired EDHF-mediated hyperpolarization to ACh in mesenteric arteries from SHR, with enalapril tending to be more effective than the latter combination.15 The present study extends our previous observations by demonstrating that AT1 receptor antagonists also improve EDHF-mediated responses.
Although both ACE inhibitors and AT1 receptor antagonists block the renin-angiotensin system, there are certain differences in their pharmacological profiles: ACE inhibition may lead to bradykinin accumulation,18 a peptide that causes endothelium-dependent relaxation19 ; in the presence of AT1 receptor antagonists, Ang II may stimulate the unopposed AT2 receptors whose physiological significance is yet to be elucidated20 ; and AT1 receptor antagonists block the action of Ang II regardless of its forming pathway, eg, ACE, chymase, or other enzymes.21
In the present study, the AT1 receptor antagonist TCV-116 improved EDHF-mediated hyperpolarization and relaxation to a similar extent as the ACE inhibitor enalapril in mesenteric arteries of SHR. The EDHF-mediated relaxation after treatment with TCV-116 even exceeded that of WKY, as is the case with enalapril.15 It thus appears that AT1 receptor antagonists and ACE inhibitors are equally effective in restoring EDHF-mediated responses in SHR. These findings suggest that their effects are primarily due to the inhibition of the actions of Ang II as well as the reduction of blood pressure, and the specific actions of each drug may not play a major role in improving EDHF-mediated responses. However, caution should be exercised in extrapolating the present findings to humans, because substantial heterogeneity may exist among species concerning the involvement of kinins in the action of ACE inhibitors,18 and the role of alternate pathways for Ang II formation.21
Several recent clinical studies have demonstrated the possible benefits of a combination ACE inhibitor and AT1 receptor antagonist compared with either intervention alone: In sodium-depleted normotensives, combined ACE inhibition and AT1 receptors blockade exerts additive effects on blood pressure22 ; an AT1 receptor antagonist produces additional hemodynamic and hormonal effects when given to patients with chronic heart failure that was treated with an ACE inhibitor23 ; and the combination of candesartan (TCV-116) and enalapril was more beneficial for preventing left ventricular dilatation than either therapy alone in patients with congestive heart failure.24
In the present study, the beneficial effects of the combined AT1 receptor blockade and ACE inhibition on endothelial function appeared to be for the most part similar to those of each intervention alone, except that ACh-induced hyperpolarization under stimulated conditions was significantly greater in the combined treatment group than in the enalapril-treated SHR or WKY. ACh-induced hyperpolarization under unstimulated conditions showed similar trends, but the difference among the treated SHR was not statistically significant.
The reason for the greater hyperpolarization under stimulated conditions in SHR-T&E than in SHR-E remains unclear. Systolic blood pressure tended to be lower in SHR-T&E than in SHR-E, SHR-T, or WKY. However, such differences in blood pressure within normotensive ranges may not be sufficient to explain the differences in the response, because there was no significant relationship between blood pressure levels and ACh-induced hyperpolarization among the groups of treated SHR and WKY (Figure 3B). At present, we can only speculate that a more complete inhibition of the renin-angiotensin system, which is expected to be achieved with the combination of AT1 receptor antagonists and ACE inhibitors,22 may lead to a greater restoration of EDHF-mediated hyperpolarization. In any case, because no statistical difference was found in ACh-induced hyperpolarization between SHR-T&E and SHR-T, present findings alone are not sufficient to conclude that the combination therapy is more beneficial than each therapy regarding EDHF-mediated hyperpolarization.
ACh-induced relaxation in the rat mesenteric artery is determined by the balance of NO, EDHF, and cyclooxygenase-derived contracting factors.7 12 13 ACh-induced relaxation resistant to the combined blockade of cyclooxygenase and NO synthase can be attributable to EDHF.7 14 28 29 In the present study, ACh-induced, EDHF-mediated relaxation was markedly improved in treated SHR compared with untreated SHR, which probably reflected the improved ACh-induced hyperpolarization. The EDHF-mediated relaxation in all treated SHR was even better than that in WKY, a finding consistent with our previous study.15
On the other hand, EDHF-mediated relaxations were similar in vessel rings precontracted with norepinephrine among the 3 treated SHR groups and did not appear to reflect a certain difference in ACh-induced hyperpolarization obtained under similar conditions among these rats. The reason for such a discrepancy between hyperpolarization and relaxation is unclear, but one possible explanation might be that the membrane potential induced by 10-5 mol/L ACh was more negative than -45 mV, the threshold level for contraction induced by depolarization,28 in all treated SHR. In this case, further hyperpolarization might not evoke further relaxation.
NO-induced relaxation can be assessed by the relaxation to ACh in KCl-contracted rings in which EDHF-mediated hyperpolarization is absent.15 29 Indeed, such relaxation is abolished by pretreatment with NO synthase inhibitor L-NNA.15 In the present study, ACh-induced relaxation in a high KCl solution was comparable in all groups, indicating that the NO-mediated relaxation in mesenteric arteries of SHR is preserved and not modulated by drug therapy, including AT1 receptor antagonists. On the other hand, it has been reported that AT1 receptor antagonists or ACE inhibitors prevent the deterioration of endothelial function in coronary arteries of SHR, presumably through preserving the availability of NO.25 It thus appears that the underlying mechanisms of endothelial dysfunction and its improvement by drug therapy may differ depending on the vascular bed, the vessel size used, or the timing of the initiation of drug therapy.
The EDHF system does exist in human arteries,30 31 and its contribution to relaxation may increase in smaller vessels.31 Hypertension is a major cardiovascular risk factor and is often associated with endothelial dysfunction. Endothelial dysfunction may also work as an aggravating factor in atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases.32 It is conceivable that the improvement in endothelial function, including that involving EDHF, by AT1 receptor antagonists as well as ACE inhibitors contributes to their clinical benefits. It remains to be determined whether the combined AT1 receptor blockade and ACE inhibition further improve endothelial function in humans.
In conclusion, AT1 receptor antagonists as well as ACE inhibitors improve EDHF-mediated hyperpolarization and relaxation in SHR, and the combined AT1 receptor blockade and ACE inhibition appears to exert similar effects on endothelial function to those of each intervention. The clinical relevance of our findings remains to be determined.
|
Acknowledgments |
|---|
This work was supported in part by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Science, Sports, and Culture of Japan (Ns 07307010), Tokyo, Japan.
Received November 30, 1999; first decision January 3, 2000; accepted April 18, 2000.
|
References |
|---|
|
TopAbstractIntroductionMethodsResultsDiscussionReferences |
|---|
1. Ignarro LJ. Biological actions and properties of endothelium-derived nitric oxide formed and released from artery and vein. Circ Res. 1989;65:1–21.
2. Feletou M, Vanhoutte PM. Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization of canine coronary smooth muscle. Br J Pharmacol. 1988;93:515–524.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
3. Chen G, Suzuki H, Weston AH. Acetylcholine releases endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor and EDRF from rat blood vessels. Br J Pharmacol. 1988;95:1165–1174.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
4.
Cohen RA, Vanhoutte PM.
Endothelium-dependent
hyperpolarization: beyond nitric oxide and cyclic
GMP. Circulation. 1995;92:3337–3349.
5.
Chen G, Suzuki H. Some electrical properties of
the endothelium-dependent
hyperpolarization recorded from rat
arterial smooth muscle cells. J Physiol
(Lond). 1989;410:91–106.
6.
Kauser K, Stekiel WJ, Rubanyi G, Harder DR.
Mechanism of action of EDRF on pressurized arteries: effect on
K+ conductance. Circ Res. 1989;65:199–204.
7.
Fujii K, Tominaga M, Ohmori S, Kobayashi K, Koga
T, Takata Y, Fujishima M. Decreased
endothelium-dependent
hyperpolarization to acetylcholine in smooth muscle
of the mesenteric artery of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Circ
Res. 1992;70:660–669.
8.
Campbell WB, Gebremedhin D, Pratt PF, Harder DR.
Identification of epoxyeicosatrienoic acids as
endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factors. Circ
Res. 1996;78:415–423.
9. Fisslthaler B, Popp R, Kiss L, Potente M, Harder DR, Fleming I, Busse R. Cytochrome P450 2C is an EDHF synthase in coronary arteries. Nature. 1999;401:493–497.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
10. Edwards G, Dora KA, Gardener MJ, Garland CJ, Weston AH. K+ is an endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in rat arteries. Nature. 1998;396:269–272.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
11. Yamamoto Y, Imaeda K, Suzuki H. Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization and intracellular electrical coupling in guinea-pig mesenteric arterioles. J Physiol (Lond). 1999;514:2:505–513.
12.
Vanhoutte PM. Endothelium and
control of vascular function: state of the art lecture.
Hypertension. 1989;13:658–667.
13.
Lüscher TF, Boulanger CM, Dohi Y, Yang ZH.
Endothelium-derived contracting factors.
Hypertension. 1992;19:117–130.
14.
Fujii K, Ohmori S, Tominaga M, Abe I, Takata Y,
Ohya Y, Kobayashi K, Fujishima M. Age-related changes in
endothelium-dependent
hyperpolarization in the rat mesenteric artery.
Am J Physiol. 1993;265:H509–H516.
15.
Onaka U, Fujii K, Abe I, Fujishima M.
Antihypertensive treatment improves
endothelium-dependent
hyperpolarization in the mesenteric artery of
spontaneously hypertensive rats. Circulation. 1998;98:175–182.
16.
Martens JR, Reaves PY, Lu D, Katovich MJ, Berecek
KH, Bishop SP, Raizada MK, Gelband CH. Prevention of renovascular and
cardiac pathophysiological changes in hypertension
by angiotensin II type 1 receptor antisense gene therapy.
Proc Natl Acad Sci. 1998;95:2664–2669.
17. Timmermans PBMWM. Angiotensin II receptor antagonists: an emerging new class of cardiovascular therapeutics. Hypertens Res. 1999;22:147–153.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
18.
Gainer JV, Morrow JD, Loveland A, King DJ, Brown
NJ. Effects of bradykinin-receptor blockade on the response to
angiotensin-converting-enzyme inhibitor in
normotensive and hypertensive subjects. N Engl J
Med. 1998;339:1285–1292.
19.
Mombouli J-V, Illiano S, Nagao T, Scott-Burden T,
Vanhoutte PM. Potentiation of endothelium-dependent
relaxations to bradykinin by angiotensin I converting
enzyme inhibitors in canine coronary artery
involves both endothelium-derived relaxing and
hyperpolarizing factors. Circ Res. 1992;71:137–144.
20.
Matsubara H.
Pathophysiological role of angiotensin
II type 2 receptor in cardiovascular and renal
diseases. Circ Res. 1998;83:1182–1191.
21. Urata H, Nishimura H, Ganten D. Chymase-dependent angiotensin II forming systems in humans. Am J Hypertens. 1996;9:277–284.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
22.
Azizi M, Chatellier G, Guyene, T-T,
Murieta-Geoffroy D, Ménard J. Additive effects of combined
angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition and
angiotensin II antagonism on blood pressure and renin
release in sodium-depleted normotensives. Circulation. 1995;92:825–834.
23.
Baruch L, Anand I, Cohen I-S, Ziesche S, Judd D,
Cohn J-N. Augmented short- and long-term hemodynamic
and hormonal effects of an angiotensin receptor blocker
added to angiotensin converting enzyme
inhibitor therapy in patients with heart failure.
Circulation. 1999;99:2658–2664.
24.
McKelvie RS, Yusuf S, Pericak D, Avezum A, Burns
RJ, Probstfield J, Tsuyuki RT, White M, Rouleau J, Latini R,
Maggioni A, Young J, Pogue J. Comparison of candesartan,
enalapril, and their combination in congestive heart failure:
randomized Evaluation of Strategies for Left Ventricular
Dysfunction (RESOLVED) Pilot Study. Circulation. 1999;100:1056–1064.
25.
Tschudi MR, Criscione L, Novosel D, Pfeiffer K,
Lüscher TF. Antihypertensive therapy augments
endothelium-dependent relaxations in coronary
arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats. Circulation. 1994;89:2212–2218.
26. Dohi Y, Criscione L, Pfeiffer K, Lüscher TF. Angiotensin blockade or calcium antagonists improve endothelial dysfunction in hypertension: studies in perfused mesenteric resistance arteries. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1994;24:372–379.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
27.
Nabika T, Nara Y, Ikeda K, Endo J, Yamori Y.
Genetic heterogeneity of the spontaneously hypertensive
rat. Hypertension. 1991;18:12–16.
28.
Chen G, Cheung DW. Modulation of
endothelium-dependent
hyperpolarization and relaxation to acetylcholine
in rat mesenteric artery by cytochrome P450 enzyme activity. Circ
Res. 1996;79:827–833.
29. Adeagbo AS, Triggle CR. Varying extracellular [K+]: a functional approach to separating EDHF- and EDNO-related mechanisms in perfused rat mesenteric arterial bed. J Cardiovasc Pharmacol. 1993;21:423–429.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
30. Nakashima M, Mombouli JV, Taylor AA, Vanhoutte PM. Endothelium-dependent hyperpolarization caused by bradykinin in human coronary arteries. J Clin Invest. 1993;92:2867–2871.
31. Urakami-Harasawa L, Shimokawa H, Nakashima M, Egashira K, Takeshita A. Importance of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor in human arteries. J Clin Invest. 1997;100:2793–2799.[Medline] [Order article via Infotrieve]
32. Vanhoutte PM. Endothelial dysfunction and atherosclerosis. Eur Heart J. 1997;18(suppl E):E19–E29.
This article has been cited by other articles:
 |
|
 |
|
  A. Ellis, K. Goto, D. J. Chaston, T. D. Brackenbury, K. R. Meaney, J. R. Falck, R. J. H. Wojcikiewicz, and C. E. Hill Enalapril Treatment Alters the Contribution of Epoxyeicosatrienoic Acids but Not Gap Junctions to Endothelium-Derived Hyperpolarizing Factor Activity in Mesenteric Arteries of Spontaneously Hypertensive Rats J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., August 1, 2009; 330(2): 413 - 422. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. Dal-Ros, C. Bronner, C. Schott, M. O. Kane, M. Chataigneau, V. B. Schini-Kerth, and T. Chataigneau Angiotensin II-Induced Hypertension Is Associated with a Selective Inhibition of Endothelium-Derived Hyperpolarizing Factor-Mediated Responses in the Rat Mesenteric Artery J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., February 1, 2009; 328(2): 478 - 486. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. Oeseburg, D. Iusuf, P. van der Harst, W. H. van Gilst, R. H. Henning, and A. J.M. Roks Bradykinin Protects Against Oxidative Stress-Induced Endothelial Cell Senescence Hypertension, February 1, 2009; 53(2): 417 - 422. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 N. Toda, K. Ayajiki, and T. Okamura Interaction of Endothelial Nitric Oxide and Angiotensin in the Circulation Pharmacol. Rev., March 1, 2007; 59(1): 54 - 87. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
X. F. Figueroa, B. E. Isakson, and B. R. Duling Vascular Gap Junctions in Hypertension Hypertension, November 1, 2006; 48(5): 804 - 811. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 M. Feletou and P. M. Vanhoutte Endothelial dysfunction: a multifaceted disorder (The Wiggers Award Lecture) Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, September 1, 2006; 291(3): H985 - H1002. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y. Zhao, D. Bell, L. R. Smith, L. Zhao, A. B. Devine, E. M. McHenry, D. P. Nicholls, and B. J. McDermott Differential Expression of Components of the Cardiomyocyte Adrenomedullin/Intermedin Receptor System following Blood Pressure Reduction in Nitric Oxide-Deficient Hypertension J. Pharmacol. Exp. Ther., March 1, 2006; 316(3): 1269 - 1281. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 T. Fujiki, H. Shimokawa, K. Morikawa, H. Kubota, M. Hatanaka, M.A. H. Talukder, T. Matoba, A. Takeshita, and K. Sunagawa Endothelium-Derived Hydrogen Peroxide Accounts for the Enhancing Effect of an Angiotensin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitor on Endothelium-Derived Hyperpolarizing Factor-Mediated Responses in Mice Arterioscler Thromb Vasc Biol, April 1, 2005; 25(4): 766 - 771. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 K. Goto, N. M Rummery, T. H. Grayson, and C. E Hill Attenuation of conducted vasodilatation in rat mesenteric arteries during hypertension: role of inwardly rectifying potassium channels J. Physiol., November 15, 2004; 561(1): 215 - 231. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
Y. Kansui, K. Fujii, K. Nakamura, K. Goto, H. Oniki, I. Abe, Y. Shibata, and M. Iida Angiotensin II receptor blockade corrects altered expression of gap junctions in vascular endothelial cells from hypertensive rats Am J Physiol Heart Circ Physiol, July 1, 2004; 287(1): H216 - H224. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 X. Zhao, T. Yamamoto, J. W. Newman, I.-H. Kim, T. Watanabe, B. D. Hammock, J. Stewart, J. S. Pollock, D. M. Pollock, and J. D. Imig Soluble Epoxide Hydrolase Inhibition Protects the Kidney from Hypertension-Induced Damage J. Am. Soc. Nephrol., May 1, 2004; 15(5): 1244 - 1253. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
S. L. Sandow, K. Goto, N. M. Rummery, and C. E. Hill Developmental changes in myoendothelial gap junction mediated vasodilator activity in the rat saphenous artery J. Physiol., May 1, 2004; 556(3): 875 - 886. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
|
|
J. D. Imig ACE Inhibition and Bradykinin-Mediated Renal Vascular Responses: EDHF Involvement Hypertension, March 1, 2004; 43(3): 533 - 535. [Full Text] [PDF]
|
|
|
|
 |
|
 H. Tezcan, D. Yavuz, A. Toprak, I. Akpmar, M. Koc, O. Deyneli, and S. Akalm Effect of angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibition on endothelial function and insulin sensitivity in hypertensive patients Journal of Renin-Angiotensin-Aldosterone System, June 1, 2003; 4(2): 119 - 123. [Abstract] [PDF]
|
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||