Levels of the endothelium-derived vasoconstrictor endothelin (ET)-1 and the vasodilator nitric oxide (NO) are markedly increased in endotoxic shock, although the pathophysiological role of ET-1 and its relation to NO under septic conditions remains obscure. To delineate the roles of ET-1 and the ET receptors, and the NO/inducible NO synthase (iNOS) system in endotoxic shock, we examined the gene expression of ET-1, ET receptors A and B (ETA and ETB) and iNOS in the heart and the liver of a rat endotoxic shock model, and we studied the effects of ET receptor antagonists on haemodynamics, survival rate and expression of ET-1, ET receptors and iNOS. Administration of bacterial lipopolysaccharide (LPS) into rats caused a profound hypotension with resultant death. However, these effects were blocked by a non-selective ETA/ETB receptor antagonist (TAK044), but not by an ETA-selective antagonist (BQ123). Injection of LPS caused a marked elevation in the plasma levels of both ET-1 and NO, which were not affected by treatment with either ET receptor antagonist. Administration of LPS caused increases in levels of ET-1, ETB and iNOS mRNA in the heart and the liver, whereas ETA mRNA expression was markedly downregulated in these organs. These results suggest that ET receptor subtype genes are differentially regulated in major organs from endotoxic shock rats, and that non-selective ET receptor antagonists ameliorate endotoxin-induced hypotension and death irrespective of iNOS-derived NO.
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September 2002
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September 01 2002
Effects of endothelin receptor antagonists on endothelin-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase genes in a rat endotoxic shock model
Yukio HIRATA;
1Department of Clinical and Molecular Endocrinology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
Dr Y. Hirata (e-mail [email protected]).
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Shinya ISHIMARU
Shinya ISHIMARU
1Department of Clinical and Molecular Endocrinology, Tokyo Medical and Dental University Graduate School, 1-5-45, Yushima, Bunkyo-ku, Tokyo 113-8519, Japan
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Publisher: Portland Press Ltd
Online ISSN: 1470-8736
Print ISSN: 0143-5221
© 2002 The Biochemical Society and the Medical Research Society
2002
Clin Sci (Lond) (2002) 103 (s2002): 332S–335S.
Citation
Yukio HIRATA, Shinya ISHIMARU; Effects of endothelin receptor antagonists on endothelin-1 and inducible nitric oxide synthase genes in a rat endotoxic shock model. Clin Sci (Lond) 1 September 2002; 103 (s2002): 332S–335S. doi: https://doi.org/10.1042/CS103S332S
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