Abstract
The effect of xanthone on smooth muscle was studied in thoracic aorta isolated from rats. Xanthone relaxed the norepinephrine-induced contraction of rat thoracic aorta. This relaxing effect of xanthone persisted in endothelium-denuded aorta suggesting that the relaxation induced by xanthone is endothelium-independent. The norepinephrine and high-K+-induced vasoconstriction was inhibited dose dependently in aorta pretreated with xanthone with IC50 values of 60.26 ± 8.43 and 82.9 ± 13.21 μM, respectively. The inositol 1,4,5-trisphosphate formation induced by norepinephrine (3 μM) in rat aorta was not affected by xanthone (10-100 μM), suggesting that the vasorelaxant effect of xanthone was not exerted on the receptor. Xanthone concentration dependently inhibited the 45Ca2+ influx induced by either norepinephrine or high-K+, suggesting that xanthone might act as a blocker of both receptor-operated and voltage-dependent Ca2+ channels. Furthermore, xanthone caused an increase in the level of intracellular cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP), but not cyclic guanosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cGMP) content. These data suggested that the mechanism of xanthone-induced vasorelaxation might involve the increase of intracellular cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (cAMP) content and block of Ca2+ channels.
Original language | English |
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Pages (from-to) | 23-28 |
Number of pages | 6 |
Journal | European Journal of Pharmacology |
Volume | 336 |
Issue number | 1 |
DOIs | |
Publication status | Published - Oct 1 1997 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Ca channel blocker
- cAMP
- cGMP
- Norepinephrine
- Thoracic aorta
- Vasorelaxation
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Cellular and Molecular Neuroscience
- Pharmacology