High concentration of uric acid failed to affect endothelial function of small mesenteric arteries, femoral arteries and aortas from aged Wistar-Kyoto rats.

It is known that a high level of uric acid (UA) in plasma, hyperuricemia (HU), is associated with the increased risk of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs). Endothelial damage has been suggested as a potential mechanism involved in HU-induced CVDs, especially in patients with the accumulation of other cardiovascular risk factors. However, the role of UA in the pathogenesis of endothelial dysfunction is still a matter of debate. It is unclear whether UA is a causative risk factor in endothelial dysfunction, an inert marker or an endothelium-protective molecule with respect to its antioxidant properties. Of note, only a few studies have been conducted to investigate the effect of UA on vascular endothelium-dependent relaxation. Therefore, we have studied the acute in vitro effects of high UA concentrations on the endothelial function of arteries isolated from aged rats. Experiments were performed in small mesenteric arteries (SMAs), femoral arteries and thoracic aortas isolated from 68-week-old and 57-week-old male Wistar-Kyoto rats. Vascular reactivity was investigated in isometric conditions using the wire myograph and organ chamber. Acetylcholine (ACh) was used to investigate endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. Then, UA was added to the myograph or organ chamber at 600 μmol/l (arteries from 68-week-old rats) or 1200 μmol/l (arteries from 57-week-old rats) and incubated for 1 h, and this was followed by determining the ACh concentration-response curve. UA had no significant effect on ACh-induced vasorelaxation and pD2 values in all investigated groups. Likewise, no significant differences in noradrenaline- (SMAs), serotonin- (femoral arteries) and phenylephrine-induced (aortas) vasoconstriction were observed after UA pre-incubation. In conclusion, high concentrations of UA administered acutely failed to affect endothelial function and did not provoke endothelial dysfunction in resistant mesenteric arteries, medium-sized and large arteries from aged rats.