Inhibition of the endothelium-dependent relaxation by 18β- glycyrrhetinic acid in the guinea-pig aorta

Abstract

The effect of 18β-glycyrrhetinic acid (GA), an agent which interferes with gap junction conductivity, on endothelium-dependent relaxation produced by substance P was investigated in isolated aortic rings of the guinea-pig, in noradrenaline (NA)-contracted aortic rings, substance P (10-7 M) induced an endothelium-dependent, transient relaxation. The relaxation was only slightly reduced by the co-application of nitroarginine and diclofenac. When GA (2x10-5 M) was applied first, it slightly reduced substance P-induced relaxation, and a subsequent co-application of nitroarginine and diclofenac strongly reduced the relaxation. In aortic rings contracted with high-K solution ([K+](o)=29.4 mM), substance P-induced relaxation was reduced by the simultaneous application of GA, nitroarginine and diclofenac, but not by GA alone. In endothelium-denuded aortic rings, GA reduced the threshold concentration of NA required to produce contractions and increased the amplitude of NA-induced contractions. GA increased the amplitude of contraction produced by small increases of [K+](o) (<30 mM) but reduced those produced by higher concentrations of [K+](o) (>54 mM). In NA- contracted aortic rings, Y-26763, a K+-channel opener, could relax muscles with reduced amplitude in the presence of GA. It is concluded that in guinea- pig aortic rings, GA inhibits mainly the EDHF-induced components of endothelium-dependent relaxation. GA also modulated contractions produced by NA or high-K solutions: The possible effects of inhibition of gap junctions by GA on endothelium-dependent relaxation were discussed.