
pmid: 23537646
N-type voltage-dependent Ca(2+)channels (VDCCs), expressed predominantly in the nervous system, play pivotal roles in sympathetic regulation of the circulatory system. Although N-type VDCCs are also reportedly expressed in the vasculature, their pathophysiological role is obscure. We demonstrated that oxidative stress-related endothelial dysfunction induced by angiotensin (Ang) II is suppressed in mice lacking the N-type VDCC α1B subunit (Cav 2.2). Impairment of endothelium-dependent relaxation of the thoracic aorta observed following Ang II treatment in wild-type (WT) mice was significantly attenuated in the Ang II-treated Cav 2.2-deficient mice, despite the comparable increase of the blood pressure in the two groups of mice. The thoracic aorta of the Cav 2.2-deficient mice showed a smaller positive area of oxidative stress markers as compared to the WT mice. The Ang II-induced endothelial dysfunction was also suppressed by cilnidipine, an L/N-type VDCC blocker, but not by amlodipine, an L-type VDCC blocker; however, this unique effect of cilnidipine was completely abolished in the Cav 2.2-deficient mice. Furthermore, selective inhibition of N-type VDCCs by ω-conotoxin GVIA dramatically suppressed the production of reactive oxygen species (ROS) as well as agonist-induced Ca(2+) influx in the vascular endothelial cells. These results suggest that N-type VDCCs expressed in the vascular endothelial cells contribute to ROS production and endothelial dysfunction observed in Ang II-treated hypertensive mice.
Dihydropyridines, Vasodilator Agents, Biophysics, Aorta, Thoracic, Blood Pressure, Biochemistry, Mice, Calcium Channels, N-Type, Vascular relaxation, Animals, Molecular Biology, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Angiotensin II, Macrophages, Hemodynamics, Cell Biology, Calcium Channel Blockers, Vasodilation, Oxidative Stress, Cilnidipine, Hypertension, Calcium, Amlodipine, Endothelium, Vascular, Reactive oxygen species, Reactive Oxygen Species, N-type Ca2+ channel, Biomarkers
Dihydropyridines, Vasodilator Agents, Biophysics, Aorta, Thoracic, Blood Pressure, Biochemistry, Mice, Calcium Channels, N-Type, Vascular relaxation, Animals, Molecular Biology, Dose-Response Relationship, Drug, Angiotensin II, Macrophages, Hemodynamics, Cell Biology, Calcium Channel Blockers, Vasodilation, Oxidative Stress, Cilnidipine, Hypertension, Calcium, Amlodipine, Endothelium, Vascular, Reactive oxygen species, Reactive Oxygen Species, N-type Ca2+ channel, Biomarkers
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