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A role for cyclooxygenase in aging-related changes of β-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation in rat aortas

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Abstract

β-Adrenoceptor-mediated vasorelaxation decreases with age in various vascular beds. The present study investigated the roles of cyclooxygenase (COX) on β-adrenoceptor vasorelaxation by isoprenaline in 8- and 54-week-old rat aortas. The vasorelaxation responses by isoprenaline (0.03–3 μM) were significantly reduced in 54-week-old aortas compared to 8-week. Addition of the non-selective COX inhibitors indomethacin (10 μM) or aspirin (10 μM) restored isoprenaline vasorelaxation of 54-week-old aortas to levels found in 8-week-old aortas. This suggests the involvement of COX prostanoids in the age-related reduction of β-adrenoceptor vasorelaxation. Immunohistochemistry revealed greater levels of COX-1 and COX-2 staining in 54-week-old aortas compared to 8-week with expression located mainly in medial smooth muscle. An age-linked increase in COX-1 and COX-2 protein was found in cremaster arterioles of 54-week-old rats (compared to 8-week) mainly in the endothelial layer. The age-related increase in COX-1 and COX-2 protein led to elevation of prostacyclin (measured as 6-keto prostaglandin \( {\text{F}}_{{1\alpha }} \)) and thromboxane A2 (measured as thromboxane B2) in 54-week compared to 8-week-old aortas. Endothelium removal in 54-week aortas markedly reduced the 6-keto prostaglandin \( {\text{F}}_{{1\alpha }} \) level, thus suggesting an endothelial source for elevated prostacyclin. These findings in combination with the effects of COX inhibitors suggest that the age-related decrease in β-adrenoceptor vasorelaxation by isoprenaline is due to an age-linked increase in COX expression, which elevates production of COX-derived vasoactive prostanoids.

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Abbreviations

Ca2+ :

calcium

COX:

cyclooxygenase

L-NMMA:

NG-monomethyl-L-arginine

K+ :

potassium

PSS:

physiological salt solution

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Medical Sciences, RMIT University, P.O. Box 71, Bundoora, VIC, 3083, Australia

    Khong Bee Kang, M. A. Sharmini Rajanayagam, Andrea van der Zypp & Henryk Majewski

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  1. Khong Bee Kang
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  2. M. A. Sharmini Rajanayagam
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  3. Andrea van der Zypp
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Correspondence to Henryk Majewski.

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Kang, K.B., Rajanayagam, M.A.S., van der Zypp, A. et al. A role for cyclooxygenase in aging-related changes of β-adrenoceptor-mediated relaxation in rat aortas. Naunyn-Schmied Arch Pharmacol 375, 273–281 (2007). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00210-007-0153-y

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