Cheng D Y, Feng C J, Kadowitz P J, Gruetter C A
Department of Pharmacology, Tulane University School of Medicine, New Orleans, LA 70112.
Life Sci. 1994;55(10):PL187-91. doi: 10.1016/0024-3205(94)00568-0.
Estrogens have been postulated to play an important role in modulation of vascular responses to endogenous reactive substances. The effects of chronic in vivo treatment with 17 beta-estradiol on relaxant responses to acetylcholine were investigated in the rat aorta isolated from prepubertal female rats. The selectivity of effects of 17 beta-estradiol on acetylcholine-induced relaxation was evaluated using histamine, another endothelium-dependent relaxant in the rat aorta. 17 beta-Estradiol significantly enhanced endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by acetylcholine, but did not alter the vascular responses to acetylcholine in endothelium-denuded aortic rings isolated from prepubertal female rats. In contrast, 17 beta-estradiol did not change endothelium-dependent relaxation induced by histamine in endothelium-intact aortic rings. The results of the present study demonstrate that 17 beta-estradiol selectively enhances acetylcholine-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in the rat aorta.
