Role of sex differences and effects of endothelial NO synthase deficiency in responses of carotid arteries to serotonin

Kathryn G LAMPING; Frank M FARACI

doi:10.1161/01.ATV.21.4.523

Back

Role of sex differences and effects of endothelial NO synthase deficiency in responses of carotid arteries to serotonin

Journal article

Open access

Peer reviewed

Role of sex differences and effects of endothelial NO synthase deficiency in responses of carotid arteries to serotonin

Kathryn G LAMPING and Frank M FARACI

Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, Vol.21(4), pp.523-528

2001

DOI: 10.1161/01.ATV.21.4.523

PMID: 11304467

Files and links (1)

url

https://doi.org/10.1161/01.ATV.21.4.523View

Published (Version of record) Open Access

Abstract

We examined the hypothesis that contraction of the carotid arteries to serotonin is normally inhibited by endothelial NO synthase (eNOS) and is enhanced in mice lacking the gene for eNOS. Because the influence of eNOS may vary with the sex of the mouse, we also tested whether responses to serotonin were dependent on sex. We studied carotid arteries in vitro from littermate control (eNOS(+/+)) mice, heterozygous (eNOS(+/-)) mice, and homozygous eNOS-deficient (eNOS(-/-)) mice (male and female). Contraction to serotonin was greater in male eNOS(+/+) mice than in female eNOS(+/+) mice. In male mice, contraction to serotonin increased by approximately 40% and 2.5-fold in male eNOS(+/-) and eNOS(-/-) mice, respectively. Contraction to serotonin was more than doubled in female eNOS(+/-) mice and increased >5-fold in arteries from eNOS(-/-) mice. In contrast, maximum vasoconstriction to U46619 was similar in male and female eNOS(+/+), eNOS(+/-), and eNOS(-/-) mice. Relaxation to acetylcholine was not different in male and female eNOS(+/+) or eNOS(+/-) mice but was absent in eNOS(-/-) mice. These findings suggest that the contraction of carotid arteries to serotonin is influenced by the sex of the animal. eNOS deficiency in gene-targeted mice is associated with enhanced contraction to serotonin, particularly in female mice, providing direct evidence that eNOS is a major determinant of vascular effects of serotonin. The results with eNOS(+/-) mice suggest a "gene-dosing" effect for vascular responses to serotonin.

Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology

Errors of metabolism

Blood vessels and receptors

Biological and medical sciences

Metabolic diseases

Medical sciences

Vertebrates: cardiovascular system

Miscellaneous hereditary metabolic disorders

Details

Title: Subtitle: Role of sex differences and effects of endothelial NO synthase deficiency in responses of carotid arteries to serotonin
Creators: Kathryn G LAMPING - Departments of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, The Cardiovascular Center, The University of Iowa, and Veterans Administration Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Frank M FARACI - Departments of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology, The Cardiovascular Center, The University of Iowa, and Veterans Administration Medical Center, Iowa City, Iowa, United States
Resource Type: Journal article
Publication Details: Arteriosclerosis, thrombosis, and vascular biology, Vol.21(4), pp.523-528
Publisher: Lippincott; Philadelphia, PA; Hagerstown, MD
DOI: 10.1161/01.ATV.21.4.523
PMID: 11304467
ISSN: 1079-5642
eISSN: 1524-4636
Language: English
Date published: 2001
Academic Unit: Cardiovascular Medicine; Neuroscience and Pharmacology; Internal Medicine
Record Identifier: 9984040206402771

Metrics

17 Record Views

61 Times Cited - Web of Science