Endothelium-dependent relaxation of hypertensive resistance arteries is not impaired under all conditions.

Endothelium-dependent relaxation of mesenteric resistance arteries of spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRs) and normotensive Wistar-Kyoto (WKY) rats was studied. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation of SHR vessels precontracted with 10 microM norepinephrine was endothelium dependent and attenuated compared with WKY vessels. The impaired response of SHR vessels was normalized by inhibition of cyclooxygenase with indomethacin. Blockade of nitric oxide synthetase with NG-nitro L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) or inhibition of guanylate cyclase with methylene blue attenuated acetylcholine-induced relaxation of norepinephrine-contracted SHR vessels but had no effect on WKY vessels. When vessels were precontracted with 30 nM arginine vasopressin, acetylcholine induced similar degrees of relaxation in both strains. A similar response was detected when lysine vasopressin was used to induce tone. Indomethacin had no effect on relaxation responses of SHR and WKY vessels precontracted with either form of vasopressin. L-NAME and methylene blue partially inhibited acetylcholine-induced relaxation of vasopressin-contracted vessels from both strains. Acetylcholine added at baseline did not induce contraction of vessels from either strain. It is concluded that endothelium-dependent relaxation of SHR resistance arteries is not impaired under all circumstances. Acetylcholine-induced relaxation may be suppressed in SHR resistance arteries when norepinephrine is used to induce contraction as a result of catecholamine-induced production of an endothelium-derived contracting factor. Vasopressin, on the other hand, does not elicit production of this contracting factor and may enhance the vasorelaxant action of acetylcholine in resistance arteries of both strains via actions on endothelial or vascular smooth muscle cells.