Dissociation of hyperglycemia from altered vascular contraction and relaxation mechanisms in caveolin-1 null mice

J Pharmacol Exp Ther. 2014 Feb;348(2):260-70. doi: 10.1124/jpet.113.209189. Epub 2013 Nov 26.

Abstract

Hyperglycemia and endothelial dysfunction are associated with hypertension, but the specific causality and genetic underpinning are unclear. Caveolin-1 (cav-1) is a plasmalemmal anchoring protein and modulator of vascular function and glucose homeostasis. Cav-1 gene variants are associated with reduced insulin sensitivity in hypertensive individuals, and cav-1(-/-) mice show endothelial dysfunction, hyperglycemia, and increased blood pressure (BP). On the other hand, insulin-sensitizing therapy with metformin may inadequately control hyperglycemia while affecting the vascular outcome in certain patients with diabetes. To test whether the pressor and vascular changes in cav-1 deficiency states are related to hyperglycemia and to assess the vascular mechanisms of metformin under these conditions, wild-type (WT) and cav-1(-/-) mice were treated with either placebo or metformin (400 mg/kg daily for 21 days). BP and fasting blood glucose were in cav-1(-/-) > WT and did not change with metformin. Phenylephrine (Phe)- and KCl-induced aortic contraction was in cav-1(-/-) < WT; endothelium removal, the nitric-oxide synthase (NOS) blocker L-NAME (N(ω)-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester), or soluble guanylate cyclase (sGC) inhibitor 1H-[1,2,4]oxadiazolo[4,3-a]quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ) enhanced Phe contraction, and metformin blunted this effect. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation was in cav-1(-/-) > WT, abolished by endothelium removal, L-NAME or ODQ, and reduced with metformin. Nitric oxide donor sodium nitroprusside was more potent in inducing relaxation in cav-1(-/-) than in WT, and metformin reversed this effect. Aortic eNOS, AMPK, and sGC were in cav-1(-/-) > WT, and metformin decreased total and phosphorylated eNOS and AMPK in cav-1(-/-). Thus, metformin inhibits both vascular contraction and NO-cGMP-dependent relaxation but does not affect BP or blood glucose in cav-1(-/-) mice, suggesting dissociation of hyperglycemia from altered vascular function in cav-1-deficiency states.

Publication types

  • Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / antagonists & inhibitors
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / chemistry
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases / metabolism
  • Animals
  • Aorta / drug effects
  • Aorta / metabolism
  • Aorta / physiopathology
  • Caveolin 1 / genetics
  • Caveolin 1 / metabolism*
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism
  • Endothelium, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Enzyme Inhibitors / pharmacology
  • Guanylate Cyclase / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Guanylate Cyclase / chemistry
  • Guanylate Cyclase / metabolism
  • Hyperglycemia / blood
  • Hyperglycemia / drug therapy
  • Hyperglycemia / metabolism*
  • Hyperglycemia / physiopathology
  • Hypertension / etiology
  • Hypertension / metabolism*
  • Hypertension / prevention & control
  • Hypoglycemic Agents / therapeutic use
  • Male
  • Metformin / therapeutic use
  • Mice
  • Mice, Knockout
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / drug effects
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Muscle, Smooth, Vascular / physiopathology
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / antagonists & inhibitors
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / chemistry
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III / metabolism
  • Phosphorylation / drug effects
  • Protein Processing, Post-Translational / drug effects
  • Vasoconstriction / drug effects*
  • Vasodilation / drug effects*

Substances

  • Cav1 protein, mouse
  • Caveolin 1
  • Enzyme Inhibitors
  • Hypoglycemic Agents
  • Metformin
  • Nitric Oxide Synthase Type III
  • Nos3 protein, mouse
  • AMP-Activated Protein Kinases
  • Guanylate Cyclase