Vasopressin-mediated inhibition of atrial natriuretic factor-stimulated cGMP accumulation in an established smooth muscle cell line.

Rat thoracic aortic smooth muscle cells (line A10, ATCC CRL 1476) display a high density of atrial natriuretic factor (ANF) receptors. ANF stimulated the accumulation of cGMP in these cells in a time- and dose-dependent fashion. These cells are known to display a high density of vasopressin receptors of the vascular V1 subtype. These vasopressin receptors mediate inhibition of isoproterenol-stimulated cAMP accumulation and stimulation of inositol phosphate accumulation and calcium fluxes. Addition of [8-arginine]vasopressin ([Arg8]VP) to these cells inhibited ANF-stimulated cGMP accumulation. Inhibition of cGMP accumulation was dependent on the concentration of [Arg8]VP, with half-maximal and maximal effects occurring at 0.4 and 10 nM, respectively. [Arg8]VP did not have significant effects on basal cGMP levels. The inhibition by [Arg8]VP appears to be mediated by V1 receptors, since the V2 renal receptor agonist [1-desaminocysteine,8-D-arginine]vasopressin was ineffective. Also, the selective V1 antagonist [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid),2-(O-methyltyrosine),8-arginine]vasopressin and the mixed V1/V2 antagonist [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid),2-(O-ethyl-D-tyrosine),4-valine,8-arginine]vasopressin blocked the [Arg8]VP-mediated effect, whereas the selective V2 antagonist [1-(beta-mercapto-beta,beta-cyclopentamethylenepropionic acid), 2-D-isoleucine,4-valine,8-arginine]vasopressin was minimally effective. These data show that in rat aortic smooth muscle cells, V1 receptors are negatively coupled to guanylate cyclase. These data also suggest that the vasoconstrictor activity of [Arg8]VP might involve inhibition of ANF-receptor-mediated vascular relaxation through inhibition of cGMP accumulation in addition to its effects on isoproterenol-mediated cAMP accumulation and inositol phosphate accumulation and calcium fluxes.