Bradykinin-induced relaxation of coronary microarteries:: S-nitrosothiols as EDHF?

1 To investigate whether S-nitrosothiols, in addition to NO, mediate bradykinin-induced vasorelaxation, porcine coronary microarteries (PCMAs) were mounted in myographs. 2 Following preconstriction, concentration-response curves (CRCs) were constructed to bradykinin, the NO donors S-nitroso-N-penicillamine (SNAP) and diethylamine NONOate (DEA-NONOate) and the S-nitrosothiols L-S-nitrosocysteine (L-SNC) and D-SNC. All agonists relaxed PCMAs. L-SNC was approximate to5-fold more potent than D-SNC. 3 The guanylyl cyclase inhibitor ODQ and the NO scavenger hydroxocobalamin induced a larger shift of the bradykinin CRC than the NO synthase inhibitor L-NAME, although all three inhibitors equally suppressed bradykinin-induced cGMP responses. 4 Complete blockade of bradykinin-induced relaxation was obtained with L-NAME in the presence of the large- and intermediate-conductance Ca2+-activated K+-channel (BKCa, IKCa) blocker charybdotoxin and the small-conductance Ca2+-activated K+-channel (SKCa) channel blocker apamin, but not in the presence of L-NAME, apamin and the BKCa channel blocker iberiotoxin. 5 Inhibitors of cytochrome P450 epoxygenase, cyclooxygenase, voltage-dependent K+ channels and ATP-sensitive K+ channels did not affect bradykinin-induced relaxation. 6 SNAP-, DEA-NONOate- and D-SNC-induced relaxations were mediated entirely by the NO-guanylyl cyclase pathway. L-SNC-induced relaxations were partially blocked by charybdotoxin + apamin, but not by iberiotoxin + apamin, and this blockade was abolished following endothelium removal. ODQ, but not hydroxocobalamin, prevented L-SNC-induced increases in cGMP, and both drugs shifted the L-SNC CRC 5-10-fold to the right. 7 L-SNC hyperpolarized intact and endothelium-denuded coronary arteries. 8 Our results support the concept that bradykinin-induced relaxation is mediated via de novo synthesized NO and a non-NO, endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor (EDHF). S-nitrosothiols, via stereoselective activation of endothelial IKCa and SKCa channels, and through direct effects on smooth muscle cells, may function as an EDHF in porcine coronary microarteries.