Xanthine oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species convert flow-induced arteriolar dilation to constriction in hyperhomocysteinemia: possible role of peroxynitrite.

We hypothesized that in hyperhomocysteinemia (HHcy), flow-induced arteriolar constriction is due to an enhanced generation of reactive oxygen and/or nitrogen species, causing an impairment of nitric oxide (NO) and prostaglandin mediation of the response. Changes in diameter of isolated, pressurized (at 80 mm Hg) gracilis muscle arterioles (diameter approximately 170 microm) from control and methionine diet-induced HHcy rats were measured by videomicroscopy. Increases in intraluminal flow (from 0 to 25 microL/min) resulted in NO- and prostaglandin-mediated dilations of control arterioles (maximum, control, 30+/-4 microm) but elicited significant constrictions of HHcy arterioles (maximum, HHcy, -32+/-3 microm), which were abolished by the thromboxane A(2) receptor blocker SQ 29,548. Intraluminal administration of superoxide dismutase plus catalase did not affect flow-mediated dilations of control arterioles, but in HHcy arterioles, it reversed the flow-induced constrictions to dilations (maximum 18+/-4 microm), which were abolished by an NO synthase inhibitor. Flow-induced constrictions of HHcy arterioles were prevented by the presence of the xanthine oxidase inhibitor oxypurinol [but not by the NAD(P)H-oxidase inhibitor diphenyleneiodonium] and by urate, a known peroxynitrite scavenger. Also, authentic peroxynitrite elicited arteriolar constrictions (-31+/-8 microm) that were eliminated by urate and SQ 29,548. Thus, we suggest that in HHcy, xanthine oxidase-derived superoxide scavenges NO released to flow, forming peroxynitrite, which promotes release of thromboxane A(2), resulting in arteriolar constriction.