Mechanisms of the vasorelaxing effects of CORM-3, a water-soluble carbon monoxide-releasing molecule: interactions with eNOS.

The purpose of the present work was to elucidate the mechanisms underlying the endothelium-dependent and endothelium-independent components of the vascular relaxation induced by a water-soluble and ruthenium-based carbon monoxide (CO)-releasing agent, tricarbonylchloro(glycinato)ruthenium(II) (CORM-3). Changes in isometric tension and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) production were measured in isolated aortic rings from normotensive Wistar-Kyoto rats. Nitric oxide (NO) generation was assessed in cultured human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) by electron spin resonance. In rat aortic rings, CORM-3, but not the inactivated compound, iCORM, induced relaxations. In rings with but not in those without endothelium relaxations were partially inhibited by L-nitro-arginine (L-NA), 1H-(1,2,4)-oxadiazolo(4,2-a)quinoxalin-1-one (ODQ), or hydroxocobalamin, inhibitors of NO-synthase, soluble guanylyl cyclase, and scavenger of NO, respectively. In rings with and without endothelium, deoxyhemoglobin abolished the relaxations. A combination of potassium channel blockers (barium, glibenclamide, and iberiotoxin) blunted the relaxation in rings without endothelium. CORM-3 produced an endothelium-dependent generation of cGMP that was inhibited by L-NA. CORM-3, but not iCORM, inhibited the endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine without affecting the response to sodium nitroprusside. In HUVEC, CORM-3 produced a concentration-dependent release of NO. Therefore, CORM-3-induced relaxations involve the soluble guanylyl cyclase-independent activation of smooth muscle potassium channels. Additionally, CO can produce concomitantly activation and inhibition of NO synthase, the former being responsible for the endothelium- and cGMP-dependent effect of CORM-3, the latter for the inhibition of acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxations.