The thoracic perivascular adipose tissue spontaneously induces vasoconstriction through activation of α-adrenoceptors.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Although perivascular adipose tissue (PVAT) contains substances with contractile properties, its actions on the vascular tone are associated with the release of anticontractile substances. We hypothesize that procontractile PVAT products also exert direct effects on vascular tone.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Thoracic aortas from Wistar rats, with (E+) and without (E-) functional endothelium, were mounted in organ baths. Thoracic PVAT sections were incubated in physiological salt solution (PSS, 37°C or 70°C), yielding the PSSt(+)PVAT, which was transferred (t) to the organ baths and analysed for noradrenaline content.

KEY RESULTS

Transfer (t) of the PSSt(+)PVAT solution induced a sustained vasoconstriction, three times greater in E- than in E+ aortic rings. The contractile action of the thoracic PVAT did not differ between male and female rats and was also induced by abdominal and mesenteric PVAT. Exposure to heat (70°C) increased PVAT-induced vasoconstriction by ~25 and 300% in E- and E+ rings, respectively. Incubation of PVAT with guanethidine increased the procontractile effects of PSSt(+)PVAT. Guanethidine also promoted vasoconstriction in aortic rings fully attached to PVAT. The contractile responses evoked by PVAT were abolished by prazosin, an α-adrenoceptor antagonist. Immunoassay detection revealed that the contractile effects mediated by the PSSt(+)PVAT correlate with spontaneous or experimentally induced noradrenaline release by PVAT.

CONCLUSIONS

Using functional and transfer bioassay approaches, we showed that the PVAT from healthy rats can exert direct contractile effects in the thoracic aorta. Pharmacological approaches and quantitative determination indicate that the release of noradrenaline accounts for this action.