Does the xanthine-xanthine oxidase system alter contractile behaviour of vascular smooth muscle?

Since xanthine oxidase (XOD) preparations are usually applied as crystalline suspensions in ammonium sulphate solution, we studied separately the contractile responses of excised rabbit carotid arteries to the free radical generating system of xanthine-XOD and ammonium ions. Using dialyzed XOD (0.1-0.2 U/ml) the contractile pattern of the xanthine-XOD system was characterized by initial contraction followed by relaxation. Identical contractile behaviour was observed when xanthine was omitted from that system. These contractile responses were indistinguishable from those obtained with ammonium sulphate (10-20 mM). The threshold concentration of ammonium sulphate for inducing contraction was 1-2 mM. Both Ca++-free solution and verapamil only slightly inhibited the contractions produced by XOD and ammonium sulphate. No contractile effect was observed with dialyzed XOD. We conclude that the contractile effects of the xanthine-XOD system on vascular smooth muscle are due to simultaneously applied ammonium ions, and our findings emphasize the need for further purification of XOD preparations when investigating their effects on smooth muscle.