Endothelium-dependent and independent relaxation of aortic rings from hypertensive rats

The relaxation effects of endothelium-dependent (acetylcholine, histamine) and endothelium-independent (nitroprusside, nitrite) relaxing substances were comparatively examined on contracted thoracic aortic rings from normotensive and experimental renal and desoxycorticosterone acetate (DOCA)-salt hypertensive Wistar rats. On the aorta preparations from hypertensive animals a highly significant depression of the maximal relaxation effect of histamine and acetylcholine was observed. This was not seen with nitroprusside and nitrite. By use of a bioassay technique it was demonstrated that the depression of the endothelium-mediated response is not due to a diminished release of endothelium-derived relaxing factor. Impaired coupling between the endothelium and the smooth muscle cells is suggested to be responsible for that depression.