Abstract-Although female sex hormones may attenuate endothelial dysfunction in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) by increasing endothelium-derived relaxing factors (EDRFs), the influence of ovarian hormones on the generation of endothelium-derived contracting factors (EDCFs) remains unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of estrogen and progesterone on the generation of vasoconstrictor prostanoids and superoxide anion (O 2 Ϫ ) by microvessels from SHR. Vascular reactivity to norepinephrine (NE), acetylcholine (ACh), and sodium nitroprusside (SNP) were evaluated in the mesenteric arteriolar bed from estrous (OE) and ovariectomized (OVX) SHR. OVX-SHR were treated for 24 hours or 15 days with estradiol and for 15 days with estradiolϩprogesterone. The vascular reactivity was evaluated in the absence or presence of indomethacin (INDO, 10 mol/L) and sodium diclofenac (DIC, 10 mol/L), ridogrel (RID, 50 mol/L), dazoxiben (DAZ, 10 mol/L), or superoxide dismutase (SOD, 100 U/mL). Prostanoid levels in the arteriolar perfusate of mesenteries with or without endothelium were measured by enzyme immunoassay. An increased reactivity to NE and reduced sensitivity to ACh were observed in microvessels from OVX-SHR compared with OE-SHR. There were no differences in the responses to SNP. Treatments with estradiol and estradiolϩprogesterone similarly restored these altered responses. INDO, DIC, RID, and SOD also restored the NE and ACh responses in OVX-SHR. DAZ had no effect on the vascular reactivities. The release of PGF 2␣ , but not of TXB 2 and 6-keto-PGF 1␣ , was greater in OVX-SHR than in OE-SHR microvessels with endothelium when stimulated by NE. This response was normalized by hormonal treatments. Neither NE nor ACh stimulated prostanoid production by microvessels without endothelium. These results suggest that estrogen may protect female SHR against severe hypertension partly by Key Words: estrogen Ⅲ progesterone Ⅲ SHR Ⅲ endothelium-derived contracting factors Ⅲ prostanoids Ⅲ superoxide W omen in the reproductive age are less prone to hypertension and hypertension-related diseases than men or postmenopausal women. 1 This observation suggests that ovarian hormones, especially estrogen, may confer premenopausal protection. Indeed, a reduction in estrogen levels after ovariectomy aggravates hypertension in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR). 2 In addition, although some authors have reported that estrogen exerts no influence on blood pressure, 3 several studies have demonstrated that estrogen replacement can decrease blood pressure in this model of hypertension, 4 as well as in postmenopausal women. 5 One hypothesis to explain the beneficial effects of estrogen in the cardiovascular system is that estrogen can modulate the generation of endothelium-derived relaxing factors (EDRFs) such as nitric oxide. In vitro studies of certain isolated vessels have demonstrated a relationship between estrogen levels and nitric oxide generation. 6,7 In contrast, the influence of estrogen on the biosynthesis of endo...

1 The response to vasoactive agents of microvessels in situ and large arteries in vitro was compared in normal and alloxan-diabetic rats. 2 Noradrenaline was equally effective in evoking a constrictor response of mesenteric microvessels in normal and diabetic animals. 3 The constrictor response to a standard amount of noradrenaline in such vessels was fully antagonized by acetylcholine or papaverine, the minimum effective doses being equivalent in normal and diabetic animals. In contrast, the minimum doses of histamine or bradykinin, effective in normal animals, had to be increased about 20 fold to be active in diabetic animals. 4 Increased osmolarity of extracellular fluid caused a significant and equivalent increase in latency of the vasoconstrictor response of microvessels to noradrenaline in normal and diabetic animals. 5 Concentration-effect curves, constructed from the response of isolated aortae to noradrenaline, were similar in normal and diabetic animals, provided the endothelium was removed. Diabetes only affected preparations in which the endothelium was left intact. In these, the median effective concentrations of noradrenaline were greatly increased in comparison with normal values. 6 Precontracted aortae from normal and diabetic animals were equally relaxed by acetylcholine and histamine, provided the endothelium was left intact. Loss of the relaxant response of the preparations in all groups of animals was observed following removal of endothelial cells. 7 It is suggested that different mechanisms may be involved in the effects of vasodilator agents on large arteries in vitro or small vessels in situ. Histamine and bradykinin which are potent permeability-increasing factors, may antagonize the vasoconstrictor response of microvessels to noradrenaline through an action on endothelial cells with increased vascular permeability and temporary changes in composition of extracellular fluid. The reactive process of endothelial cells to permeability factors was affected by diabetes mellitus. However, the response of microvessels to acetylcholine and papaverine which are devoid of permeability-increasing properties, was not influenced by diabetes.

The response to vasoactive agents of microvessels of the rat was tested in vivo by direct microscopic observation of the exteriorized mesentery and assessment of cutaneous vascular permeability changes with Evans blue. The constrictor response to a standard amount of noradrenaline in mesenteric microvessels was fully antagonized by acetylcholine in normal, diabetic, adrenalectomized and diabetic‐adrenalectomized rats. In contrast, the minimum doses of histamine or bradykinin, effective in normal or adrenalectomized animals, had to be increased about 20 fold to be active in diabetic or diabetic‐adrenalectomized animals. Topical application of insulin to mesenteric microvessels of diabetic animals, in amounts not causing any increase in serum insulin levels, improved or restored the capacity of the animals to respond to histamine or bradykinin, acting as antagonists of the vasoconstrictor response to noradrenaline. Topical insulin, however, was ineffective in normal animals given 2‐deoxyglucose, the acute effects of which result from cellular glucopaenia unrelated to insulin deficiency. Vascular permeability responses to intracutaneous histamine or bradykinin were decreased in animals pretreated with 2‐deoxyglucose as much as in diabetic animals. Pretreatment of normal animals with indomethacin produced no effect on the responses of these animals to histamine or bradykinin, tested as antagonists of noradrenaline on mesenteric microvessels, or as vascular permeability‐increasing factors in the skin. Pretreatment of normal animals with chloroquine, mepacrine or dexamethasone had no effect on the reactivity of mesenteric microvessels to histamine and bradykinin, acting as antagonists to noradrenaline. It is suggested that vasoactive substances, endowed with permeability‐increasing properties, evoke relaxation of microvessels through an insulin‐dependent action on endothelial cells, unrelated to the release of arachidonic acid metabolites. This action would lead to increased vascular permeability, with opening of interendothelial junctions, and temporary changes in composition of extravascular fluid, which in turn, would provide the basis for vasodilatation. Diabetes mellitus apparently impairs such responses as a result of the accompanying cellular glucopaenia. Adrenal corticosteroids are not involved in the impaired responses.

1 Noradrenaline (NA) evoked a vasoconstrictor response in rat mesenteric microvessels in situ, the latency and nature of which was analogous in normal and alloxan-diabetic animals. 2 Histamine and bradykinin (Bk) were capable of antagonizing the response to NA in normal but not in diabetic animals. In contrast, acetylcholine (ACh) was equally effective as an antagonist to NA in both groups of animals. 3 The altered responses to histamine and Bk were not associated with hyperglycaemia since fasting rendered the diabetic animals normoglycaemic and yet did not restore the reactivity of microvessels. Previous administration of insulin to diabetic animals corrected the impaired responses to histamine and Bk.4 A similar condition of impaired responses to histamine and Bk was produced in normal animals by the intravenous injection of 2-deoxyglucose although ACh remained fully active. 5 Apparently, the functional changes observed in the response to histamine or Bk, as antagonists of the vasoconstrictor reaction to NA, were not associated with a defective response of all smooth muscle. First, because ACh remained active in diabetic animals, and, second, because extravascular smooth muscles obtained from either normal or diabetic rats were equally relaxed by histamine or Bk in vitro.6 It is suggested that histamine and Bk antagonized the vasoconstrictor response of microvessels to NA through an action on lining endothelial cells resulting in increased vascular permeability and hyperosmolarity of extracellular fluids. 7 The process depended on the availability of insulin, and, therefore, might be affected by intracellular glucopaenia as occurring in diabetes. 8 Intracellular glucopaenia markedly affected other structures. Reduced atria rates were observed in diabetes, despite the fact that the isolated preparation responded normally to NA, ACh or tyramine. Partial substitution of glucose in the bathing fluid by 2-deoxyglucose or addition of NaF to the organ bath evoked similar changes in atria from normal animals.9 ACh which has little effect on vascular permeability must exert its vasodilator effects through mechanisms which are different from those influenced by the biochemical changes occurring in diabetes.

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