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. 2011 Dec;61(6):506-10.
doi: 10.4097/kjae.2011.61.6.506. Epub 2011 Dec 20.

Aging impairs vasodilatory responses in rats

Soon Yul Kim  1 , Jong Taek Park, Jae Kyun Park, Jeong Soo Lee, Jae Chan Choi
Affiliations

Aging impairs vasodilatory responses in rats

Soon Yul Kim et al. Korean J Anesthesiol. 2011 Dec.

Abstract

Background: Aging causes profound changes of stiffness and compliance in the cardiovascular system, which contributes to decreased cardiovascular reserve. Mechanisms of the underlying endothelial vasodilator dysfunction in vasodilator signaling pathways may occur at multiple sites within any of these pathways.

Methods: Age-related changes in the vasculature were investigated in adult young (3-6 months, Y) and old (26-29 month, O) Wistar rats (n = 6). The aortas were carefully dissected from the rat and cut into rings 1.5-2.0 mm in length to measure in vitro isometric tension. Vasorelaxant responses of aortic rings to acetylcholine (ACh), sodium nitroprusside (SNP) and P1075 were examined using Dose Response software (AD Instruments, Mountain View, CA).

Results: Endothelium-dependent vasodilator function was impaired. The endothelium of aging rats impaired endothelial NO dependent vasodilation, but the machinery for vasodilation was not impaired.

Conclusions: Age-related NO-mediated vasorelaxation in the aging endothelium was inhibited and appears to be major mechanism of vascular change and impaired vascular regulation.

Keywords: Acetylcholine; Aging; Endothelium; Nitric Oxide; P1075; Sodium nitroprusside.

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Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
PE dose-response curves of vessels from young and old rats (n = 6). Responses are expressed as tension (mg) and are presented as means ± SD in ED+ and ED- vessels.
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
ACh dose-response curves of vessels from young and old rats (n = 6). Vasorelaxant responses are expressed as a percentage of Emax after preconstriction with PE (10-6 M) and are presented as means ± SD in ED+ and ED- vessels. The vasorelaxant Emax to ACh was attenuated in ED+ aortic rings from old rats (*P < 0.05), compared with young rats. There were no responses to ACh in ED- vessels.
Fig. 3
Fig. 3
SNP dose-response curves of vessels from young and old rats (n = 6). Vasorelaxant responses are expressed as a percentage of Emax after preconstriction with PE (10-6) and are presented as means ± SD in ED+ vessels. The vasorelaxant Emax to SNP was not significantly different in ED+ aortic rings from old rats, compared with young rats.
Fig. 4
Fig. 4
P1075 dose-response curves of vessels from young and old rats (n = 6). Vasorelaxant responses are expressed as a percentage of Emax after preconstriction with PE (10-6 M) and are presented as means ± SD in ED+ and ED- vessels. The vasorelaxant Emax to P1075 was similar in ED+ and ED- aortic from old and young rats.
Fig. 5
Fig. 5
SNP dose-response curves of vessels from young and old rats (n = 6). Vasorelaxant responses are expressed as a percentage of Emax after precontriction with PE (10-6) and are presented as means ± SD in ED- vessels. The vasorelaxant Emax to SNP was similar in ED- aortic rings from old rats, compared with young rats.
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