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The presence of functional endothelin ETB receptors was investigated in rat isolated mesenteric resistance arteries. Neither endothelin-3 (0.1-100 nM) nor the endothelin ETB selective agonists sarafotoxin S6c and BQ 3020 (both 1-100 nM) induced any measurable hyperpolarization or relaxation in stimulated (alpha 1-adrenoceptor agonist; phenylephrine) or unstimulated arteries. In both cases, the subsequent addition of acetylcholine (1 microM) hyperpolarized the membrane potential by 10-20 mV and totally reversed any contraction which was present. These results indicate that the endothelin ETB-mediated vasodilatation observed in the intact mesenteric bed does not reflect hyperpolarization of smooth muscle cells in resistance arteries arising from the mesenteric artery.

Original publication

DOI

10.1016/s0014-2999(96)00839-4

Type

Journal article

Journal

Eur J Pharmacol

Publication Date

27/12/1996

Volume

318

Pages

89 - 92

Keywords

Animals, Endothelin-3, Endothelins, Male, Membrane Potentials, Mesenteric Arteries, Muscle Contraction, Muscle Relaxation, Muscle, Smooth, Vascular, Peptide Fragments, Rats, Rats, Sprague-Dawley, Rats, Wistar, Receptors, Endothelin, Vasoconstrictor Agents, Viper Venoms