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Sex differences in endothelial function in porcine coronary arteries: a role for H2O2and gap junctions?

Wong, P.S.; Roberts, R.E.; Randall, M.D.

Sex differences in endothelial function in porcine coronary arteries: a role for H2O2and gap junctions? Thumbnail


Authors

P.S. Wong



Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Cardiovascular risk is higher in men and postmenopausal women compared with premenopausal women. This may be due to sex differences in endothelial function. Here, sex differences in endothelial function of porcine coronary arteries (PCAs) were investigated.
EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH: Distal PCAs were studied under myographic conditions and after precontraction with U46619. Concentration-response curves to bradykinin were constructed in the presence of a range of inhibitors.
KEY RESULTS: In male and female PCAs, bradykinin produced comparable vasorelaxant responses. Inhibition of NO and prostanoid synthesis produced greater inhibition in males compared with females. Removing H2O2 with PEG-catalase reduced the maximum relaxation in the absence, but not the presence of L-NAME and indomethacin in females, and had no effect in males. Blocking gap junctions with 100 muM carbenoxolone or 18α-glycyrrhetinic acid further inhibited the endothelium-derived hyperpolarization (EDH-mediated response in females but not in males. In female PCAs, the maximum EDH-mediated response was reduced by inhibiting SKCa with apamin and by inhibiting IKCa with TRAM-34, or with both. In male PCAs, at maximum bradykinin concentration, the EDH-mediated response was reduced in the presence of apamin but not TRAM-34. Western blot did not detect any differences in connexins 40 or 43 or in IKCa expression between male and female PCAs.
CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS: H2O2 mediated some part of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in female PCAs and EDH was more important in females, with differences in the contribution of gap junctions and IKCa channels. These findings may contribute to understanding vascular protection in premenopausal women.

Citation

Wong, P., Roberts, R., & Randall, M. (2014). Sex differences in endothelial function in porcine coronary arteries: a role for H2O2and gap junctions?. British Journal of Pharmacology, 171(11), https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.12595

Journal Article Type Article
Acceptance Date Jan 7, 2014
Publication Date Jun 5, 2014
Deposit Date Aug 3, 2016
Publicly Available Date Aug 3, 2016
Journal British Journal of Pharmacology
Print ISSN 0007-1188
Electronic ISSN 1476-5381
Publisher Wiley
Peer Reviewed Peer Reviewed
Volume 171
Issue 11
DOI https://doi.org/10.1111/bph.12595
Keywords endothelium-derived hyperpolarization (EDH); sex differences; gap junctions; hydrogen peroxide (H2O2); nitric
oxide (NO); porcine coronary artery (PCA); intermediateconductance calcium-activated K+ channel (IKca); small-conductance calcium-activated K+ c
Public URL https://nottingham-repository.worktribe.com/output/731097
Publisher URL http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/bph.12595
Contract Date Aug 3, 2016

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