Acute Endothelin-1-mediated Vasoconstriction Involves Rapid and Sustained Protein Kinase C and Rho Kinase Activation and Chronic Endothelin-1 Infusion Attenuated Thromboxane A2 and Serotonin Mediated Microvascular Constriction

Abstract

Western blot analyses for total ␣1 and ␤2 adrenoreceptor abundance in IMA segments were not different between men and women. Assessment of subcutaneous microvascular responses of healthy females undergoing elective hernia repair were also more sensitive to U46619 and phenylephrine compared to men.Conclusion: This is the first documentation of a selective hypersensitivity to vasoconstrictors in females, with increased sensitivity in the arterial segments to both thromboxane and phenylephrine, and to the later in subcutaneous microvessels. This may predispose to myocardial ischaemia in women and contribute to the increased post-operative mortality.http://dx.