Endothelium-independent linkage of parathyroid hormone receptors of rat vascular tissue with increased adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate and relaxation of vascular smooth muscle.

We examined the mechanisms involved in the relaxation of rat vascular smooth muscle by PTH. PTH increased intracellular cAMP 10-fold in cultured vascular smooth muscle cells from rat aorta. Forskolin, methylisobutylxanthine, and papaverine all potentiated PTH action. The cAMP responses to PTH were not altered by concurrent addition of propranolol, phentolamine, atropine, or [Sar1,Ile8]angiotensin II. Only the synthetic PTH antagonist analog [Nle8,Nle18,Tyr34] bovine PTH-(3-34) inhibited the cAMP and vascular relaxation responses to PTH. Isoproterenol produced increases in intracellular cAMP and adenylate cyclase activity which were additive to those produced by PTH. In contracted rat aortic strips, PTH caused a dose-dependent relaxation which was not altered by removal of the vessel intima or treatment with nordihydroguaiaretic acid. Also, membrane preparations from intact aortas or aortas with the endothelium or adventitia removed displayed identical PTH-stimulated adenylate cyclase activities. These findings indicate that the relaxant action of PTH in rat aorta does not require an intact endothelium and results from a direct effect on the vessel medial layer. Relaxation appears to be mediated by a receptor unique for PTH which is linked to the adenylate cyclase of vascular smooth muscle cells.