Effects of cisplatin on the contractile function of thoracic aorta of Sprague-Dawley rats

DNA-damaging agents have been reported to be associated with cardiovascular complications, however, the underlying mechanisms remain to be clarified. In the present study, the possible vascular effects of cisplatin was assessed by measuring its effects on the contractile function of thoracic aortic rings dissected from Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Contraction of the aortic ring was induced by 60 mM KCl or 10(-6) M phenylephrine (PE) in an ex vivo perfusion system. Cisplatin (200 mu M) counteracted KCl-and PE-induced contraction by 57.6 and 91.8%, respectively, in endothelium-intact aortic rings. Similar results were obtained in endothelium-denuded aortas. Electromicroscopy analysis revealed severe damage to blood vessel walls in vivo by cisplatin. In addition, cisplatin significantly inhibited adenosine triphosphate (ATP) - induced intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+](i)) increases in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs). These results suggested that the DNA-damaging agent cisplatin can affect the contractile function of thoracic aortas. In addition, in accordance with its DNA-damaging properties, the cardiovascular toxicity of cisplatin may be the result of its direct cytotoxicity.