Modulation of vascular calcium channel activity in response to acute volume expansion in rats

Life Sci. 1996;58(4):359-66. doi: 10.1016/0024-3205(95)02295-3.

Abstract

The mechanisms of the increased resistance in hypertension are still unclear. Several studies have indicated that the potential-sensitive Ca2+ channels (PSC) are altered in arteries isolated from hypertensive patients or animals. An expansion of body fluid volume may trigger local autoregulatory responses or may induce the release of humoral factors, either of which could increase systemic vascular resistance and cause volume-dependent forms of hypertension. We tested the hypothesis that volume expansion per se may cause the alterations of PSC similar to those seen in hypertension. For this, we examined the alterations of PSC in aortas from volume-expanded rats with the use of dihydropyridine-type Ca2+ channel activator, BayK 8644, in parallel with the changes in endothelium-dependent relaxation. Volume expansion was produced by a rapid intravenous infusion of saline (10% of body weight) over 30 min in rats. At the end of infusion, rats were killed and aorta removed for in vitro measurement of isometric tension. Relaxation to acetylcholine (10(-7)-10(-5) mol/L, % relaxation to 10(-7) mmol/L norepinephrine contraction) was not significantly changed. In contrast, contractile response to BayK 8644 (10(-9)-10(-6) mol/L, % response to 50 mmol/L KCl) was significantly enhanced in rats with volume expansion (12 control rats: 11.6 +/- 4.9%; 18 volume-expanded rats: 40.9 +/- 10.4% at 10(-6) mol/L, p < 0.05). These findings suggest that acute volume expansion could induce a similar enhanced vascular Ca2+ channel activity to that seen in hypertension in rats.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester / pharmacology
  • Acetylcholine / pharmacology
  • Animals
  • Aorta, Thoracic / metabolism
  • Baroreflex
  • Blood Pressure* / drug effects
  • Blood Volume / physiology
  • Calcium / metabolism
  • Calcium Channel Agonists / pharmacology
  • Calcium Channels / metabolism*
  • Electrophysiology
  • Endothelium, Vascular / drug effects
  • Endothelium, Vascular / metabolism*
  • Homeostasis
  • Hypertension / physiopathology
  • Infusions, Intravenous
  • Isometric Contraction / drug effects
  • Isometric Contraction / physiology
  • Male
  • Norepinephrine / pharmacology
  • Potassium / metabolism
  • Rats
  • Rats, Wistar
  • Sodium Chloride / administration & dosage
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / pharmacology

Substances

  • Calcium Channel Agonists
  • Calcium Channels
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • Sodium Chloride
  • 3-Pyridinecarboxylic acid, 1,4-dihydro-2,6-dimethyl-5-nitro-4-(2-(trifluoromethyl)phenyl)-, Methyl ester
  • Acetylcholine
  • Potassium
  • Calcium
  • Norepinephrine