Summary.
Introduction: The aim of this study was to investigate whether blocking functional endothelin-converting enzyme (ECE) activity may offer a new approach to inhibit the development of cerebral vasopasm after subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) by preventing transformation of big Endothelin-1 (big ET-1) to vasoactive Endothelin-1 (ET-1).
Methods: In vitro, the effect of potential ECE inhibitors was determined by measurement of isometric contractions, induced by big ET-1, in isolated rat basilar arteries. Endothelium intact (E+) and de-endothelialized (E−) segments were examined after pre-incubated with the putative ECE inhibitors: Phosphoramidon (10−4 M), Captopril (10−3 M and 10−4 M) and [22D-Val] big ET-1 (16–38) (10−5 M and 10−6 M).
Results: Application of 10−4 M Phosphoramidon resulted in a statistically significant decrease in big ET-1 induced contraction in endothelium intact (E+) and de-endothelialized (E−) segments; 10−3 M Captopril in E− segments caused a statistically significant inhibitory effect; 10−4 M and 10−3 M Captopril in E+ segments showed no statistically significant effect; 10−5 M and 10−6 M [22D-Val] big ET-1 (16–38) in E− segments produced no statistically significant effect. The application of 10−6 M [22D-Val] big ET-1 (16–38) in E+ segments caused increased contractions as shown by the shift to the left of the concentration-effect curve (CEC).
Conclusion: The present study indicates the existence of functional ECE activity in rat basilar artery, which is different in the endothelium and the smooth muscle layer. This ECE-activity could be inhibited by Captopril and Phosporamidon, suggesting a potency for prevention and therapy of cerebral vasospasm. However, the structural analogue of big ET-1, [22D-Val] big ET-1 (16–38), was ineffective in reducing big ET-1 induced vasoconstriction and rather increased contraction in E+ vessels. Therefore further studies of the biochemical nature of the functional relevant cerebrovascular ECE activity are required for better understanding and development of other efficient ECE inhibitors.
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Published online October 31, 2002
Correspondence: Michael Zimmermann M.D., Ph.D., Department of Neurosurgery, University of Frankfurt/Main, Schleusenweg 2-16, 60528 Frankfurt, Germany.
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Zimmermann, M., Jung, C., Vatter, H. et al. Effect of Endothelin-Converting Enzyme Inhibitors on big Endothelin-1 Induced Contraction in Isolated rat Basilar Artery. Acta Neurochir (Wien) 144, 1213–1219 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-002-1000-z
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00701-002-1000-z