Cookies on this website

We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. If you click 'Accept all cookies' we'll assume that you are happy to receive all cookies and you won't see this message again. If you click 'Reject all non-essential cookies' only necessary cookies providing core functionality such as security, network management, and accessibility will be enabled. Click 'Find out more' for information on how to change your cookie settings.

1. 5-Hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) produced a concentration-dependent increase in the membrane concentration of 1,2-diacylglycerol (DG) in the rabbit isolated basilar artery, but did not stimulate the hydrolysis of membrane phosphoinositide. 2. The 5-HT-induced accumulation of DG could be blocked with the putative phospholipase C inhibitor 2-nitro-4-carboxyphenyl-N,N-diphenylcarbamate (NCDC; 70 microM), but not with the protein kinase C inhibitor, 1-(5-isoquinolinesulphonyl)-2-methyl piperazine (H7; 50 microM). 3. Direct stimulation of protein kinase C with phorbol 12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu) produced sustained smooth muscle contraction which was fairly rapid in onset and could be reversed by H7 but not by NCDC. The inactive phorbol, 4 alpha phorbol 12,13-dideceonate, did not produce contraction in the basilar artery. 4. 5-HT-induced contractions (1 nM-100 microM) were blocked or greatly reduced in the presence of the protein kinase inhibitor H7 or polymyxin B, and with the phospholipase C inhibitor, NCDC. The concentrations of these inhibitors which abolished contraction to 5-HT, did not alter smooth muscle contraction produced in response to 30 mM K(+)-physiological salt solution (PSS). 5. These data suggest that DG production and the subsequent activation of PKC forms an important component of the cerebrovascular contractile response to 5-HT. As the DG does not appear to arise from membrane phosphatidylinositol, it appears that 5-HT can stimulate the production of this second messenger in cerebral arteries by a mechanism which is different from peripheral arteries.

Original publication

DOI

10.1111/j.1476-5381.1991.tb12188.x

Type

Journal article

Journal

Br J Pharmacol

Publication Date

02/1991

Volume

102

Pages

415 - 421

Keywords

1-(5-Isoquinolinesulfonyl)-2-Methylpiperazine, Animals, Diglycerides, Female, In Vitro Techniques, Inositol Phosphates, Isoquinolines, Male, Muscle Contraction, Muscle, Smooth, Vascular, Phorbol 12,13-Dibutyrate, Piperazines, Protein Kinase C, Rabbits, Serotonin