Korean J Physiol Pharmacol.  2017 Jul;21(4):407-413. 10.4196/kjpp.2017.21.4.407.

Participation of COX-1 and COX-2 in the contractile effect of phenylephrine in prepubescent and old rats

• Guevara-Balcazar G
• Ramirez-Sanchez I
• Mera-Jimenez E
• Rubio-Gayosso I
• Aguilar-Najera ME
• Castillo-Hernandez MC

• KMID: 2384454
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4196/kjpp.2017.21.4.407

Abstract

Vascular reactivity can be influenced by the vascular region, animal age, and pathologies present. Prostaglandins (produced by COX-1 and COX-2) play an important role in the contractile response to phenylephrine in the abdominal aorta of young rats. Although these COXs are found in many tissues, their distribution and role in vascular reactivity are not clear. At a vascular level, they take part in the homeostasis functions involved in many physiological and pathologic processes (e.g., arterial pressure and inflammatory processes). The aim of this study was to analyze changes in the contractile response to phenylephrine of thoracic/abdominal aorta and the coronary artery during aging in rats. Three groups of rats were formed and sacrificed at three distinct ages: prepubescent, young and old adult. The results suggest that there is a higher participation of prostanoids in the contractile effect of phenylephrine in pre-pubescent rats, and a lower participation of the same in old rats. Contrarily, there seems to be a higher participation of prostanoids in the contractile response of the coronary artery of older than pre-pubescent rats. Considering that the changes in the expression of COX-2 were similar for the three age groups and the two tissues tested, and that expression of COX-1 is apparently greater in older rats, COX-1 and COX-2 may lose functionality in relation to their corresponding receptors during aging in rats.

Keyword

Aorta; Cyclooxygenase; Development; Heart; Phenylephrine

MeSH Terms

Adult
Aging
Animals
Aorta
Aorta, Abdominal
Arterial Pressure
Coronary Vessels
Heart
Homeostasis
Humans
Pathologic Processes
Pathology
Phenylephrine*
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
Prostaglandins
Rats*
Phenylephrine
Prostaglandin-Endoperoxide Synthases
Prostaglandins

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Contractile effects of phenylephrine in thoracic and abdominal aorta.Contractile effect of phenylephrine (1×10−9 to 1×10−5 M) in thoracic aorta (A) and abdominal (B) from pre-pubescent, young and old. Each point represent the mean±S.E.M. n=5. *p≤0.05.

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  Fig. 2 Contractile effect of phenylephrine with indomethacin.Contractile effect of phenylephrine (1×10−9 to 1×10−5 M) in thoracic aorta from 6 weeks old (A), 16 weeks old (B) and 1 year old (C), with and without indomethacin (1×10−5 M). Each point represent the mean±S.E.M. n=5. *p≤0.05.

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  Fig. 3 Effects of indomethacin on the phenylephrine-induced contraction in abdominal aorta.Contractile effect of phenylephrine (1×10−9 to 1×10−5 M) in abdominal aorta from 6 weeks old (A), 16 weeks old (B) and 1 year old (C), with and without indomethacin (1×10−5 M). Each point represent the mean±S.E.M. n=5. *p≤0.05.

• 

  Fig. 4 Contractile effect of phenylephrine in isolated heart.Contractile effect of phenylephrine (1×10−9 to 1×10−5 M) in isolated heart from 6 weeks old (A), 16 weeks old (B) and 1 year old (C), with and without indomethacin (1×10−5 M). Each point represent the mean±S.E.M. n=5. *p≤0.05.

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  Fig. 5 Effect of SC560 on the phenylephrine-induced contraction.Contractile effect of phenylephrine (1×10−9 to 1×10−5 M) in thoracic and abdominal aorta from 6 weeks old (A) and 1 year old (B), with and without SC560 (1×10−6 M). Each point represent the mean±S.E.M. n=5. *p≤0.05.

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  Fig. 6 Effect of NS398 on the phenylephrine-induced contraction.Contractile effect of phenylephrine (1×10−9 to 1×10−5 M) in thoracic and abdominal aorta from 6 weeks old (A) and 1 year old (B), with and without NS398 (1×10−6 M). Each point represent the mean±S.E.M. n=5. *p≤0.05.

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  Fig. 7 Expression of COX-1 in the aorta and the heart.Expression of COX 1, in thoracic and abdominal aorta and heart from 6 weeks old, 16 weeks old and 1 year old. Each barr represent the mean±S.E.M. n=5. *p≤0.05.

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  Fig. 8 Expression of COX-2 in the aorta and the heart.Expression of COX 2, in thoracic and abdominal aorta and heart from 6 weeks old, 16 weeks old and 1 year old. Each barr represent the mean±S.E.M. n=5. *p≤0.05.

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