The mechanism of EDHF-mediated responses in subcutaneous small arteries from healthy pregnant women.

We studied the importance of endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor ( EDHF) vs. nitric oxide ( NO) and prostacyclin (PGI(2)) in bradykinin (BK)-induced relaxation in isolated small subcutaneous arteries from normal pregnant women. We also explored the contribution of cytochrome P-450 (CYP450) product of arachidonic acid ( AA) metabolism, hydrogen peroxide (H2O2), and gap junctions that have been suggested to be involved in EDHF-mediated responses. Isolated arteries obtained from subcutaneous fat biopsies of normal pregnant women (n = 30) undergoing planned cesarean section were mounted in a wire-myography system. In norepinephrine-constricted vessels, incubation with N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) resulted in a significant reduction in relaxation to BK. Simultaneous incubation with L-NAME and indomethacin failed to modify this response further. BK-mediated dilatation in the presence of K+-modified solution was decreased to similar level as obtained after incubation with L-NAME. Incubation with L-NAME abolished BK-induced responses in K+-modified solution. Sulfaphenazole, a specific inhibitor of CYP450 epoxygenase, and catalase ( an enzyme that decomposes H2O2) did not affect the EDHF-mediated relaxation because concentration-response curves to BK were similar in arteries after incubation with L-NAME vs. L-NAME + sulfaphenazole and L-NAME + catalase. The inhibitor of gap junctions, 18alpha-glycyrrhetinic acid, significantly reduced BK-mediated relaxation both without and with incubation with L-NAME. We found that both NO and EDHF, but not PGI(2), are involved in the endothelium-dependent dilatation to BK. BK-induced relaxation is almost equally mediated by NO and EDHF. CYP450 epoxygenase metabolites of AA or H2O2 do not account for EDHF-mediated response; however, gap junctions are involved in the EDHF-mediated responses to BK in subcutaneous small arteries in normal pregnancy.