Modification of aortic contractility in the cardiomyopathic hamster.

1. The functional arterial response in the cardiomyopathic hamster compared with inbred control, was investigated in thoracic aortae. For this purpose, vessels were cut into 6-mm rings and mounted in 20-ml organ baths. 2. In a first experimental series, the function of the endothelium was evaluated. Dose-response curves to acetylcholine (0.1 nM-10 microM) on phenylephrine (0.3 microM)-preconstricted rings of cardiomyopathic hamsters and inbred age-matched controls were comparable (log[EC50] of -7.08 +/- 0.12 and -7.18 +/- 0.12, respectively; n = 4). 3. Changes in contractility of cardiomyopathic hamster endothelium-denuded aortae were investigated. Dose-response curves to phenylephrine (1 nM-0.1 mM), angiotensin II (10 pM-0.3 microM), 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) (1 nM-0.1 mM) and KCl (1 mM-0.1 M) were performed. Increased sensitivity in cardiomyopathic hamster aortae, compared to controls, was observed with phenylephrine (log[EC50] of -7.25 +/- 0.05 and -6.83 +/- 0.05, respectively, n = 6, P < 0.001) and angiotensin II (log[EC50] of -8.67 +/- 0.07 and -8.26 +/- 0.06, respectively, n = 6, P = 0.001) but not with 5-HT or KCl. A decreased maximum response in cardiomyopathic, compared to control, was observed with 5-HT (1.28 +/- 0.06 g vs 1.56 +/- 0.07 g, respectively, n = 6, P = 0.03). Comparable results were found in aortae with an intact endothelium. 4. No difference in the maximum contractile response to the G-protein activator, NaF (3, 10 and 30 mM) was observed in either group of animals. 5. Phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate (PMA, 1-10 microM) was used to assess changes in the activity of protein kinase C (PKC). Contractility to PMA was increased in cardiomyopathic hamster aortae compared to controls (0.22 +/- 0.02 g vs 0.07 +/- 0.03 g at 3 microM, respectively, n = 6, P = 0.003). 6. Finally, cardiomyopathic hamsters aortae were found to be less sensitive when exposed to increasing concentrations of Ca2+ (10 microM-1 mM) in KCl-depolarized rings (0.58 +/- 0.04 g in cardiomyopathic vs 0.79 +/- 0.06 g in control aortae at 0.3 mM, n = 8, P = 0.03). 7. In conclusion, aortae from cardiomyopathic hamsters are more sensitive to phenylephrine and angiotensin II, but not to 5-HT, than those of controls. The increase in sensitivity does not implicate Ca2+ channels or Ca2+ itself since cardiomyopathic hamsters aortae are not more sensitive to KCl- and Ca(2+)-induced contraction. The greater effect of PMA on cardiomyopathic hamster aortae suggests that the increase in sensitivity to phenylephrine and angiotensin II involves an enhanced activity of PKC.