Journal of Dental Research, Vol 70, 1278-1285, Copyright © 1991 by International & American Associations for Dental Research Online Journals

ARTICLES

The effect of thromboxane on contraction of canine mesenteric and lingual arteries

S. S. Greenberg, Y. Wang, J. Xie, L. Smartz, L. Rammazatto and F. A. Curro
LSU Medical Center, Department of Medicine, New Orleans 70112.

Thromboxane A2 (TXA2), a potent vasoconstrictor agent, is released from platelets and smooth muscle during inflammation and trauma. TXA2 may cause lingual artery (LA) contraction, leading to lingual paresthesia. The effects of U-46619, a TxA2 mimetic, on isolated rings of canine LA and mesenteric artery (MA) were examined. U-46619 (1 nmol/L to 1 mumol/L) caused a triphasic contraction of LA and MA; a rapid, phasic contraction; a slow, sustained contraction; and, upon washout of U-46619, a maintained contraction. The MA relaxed slowly, but the LA remained contracted for at least three h after washout. Decreasing extracellular calcium ion (Ca2+o) to less than 0.1 mumol/L with 2 mmol/L EGTA relaxed MA, but not LA. EGTA (4 mmol/L) partially relaxed the maintained contraction of LA. Inhibition of protein kinase C with amphotericin B or staurosporine inhibited the phasic and sustained contractions of LA, but did not affect the maintained contraction in the presence or absence of EGTA. Thus, CA2+o was required for the initial contraction of the LA by U-46619, but did not appear to be required for the maintained contraction following washout of U-46619. The data support the conclusion that following a brief exposure to U-46619, maintained contraction of LA persists by a unique mechanism that may be independent of Ca2+ and protein kinase C. Sustained LA contraction after exposure to endogenous TXA2 during inflammation and trauma may contribute to impaired lingual blood flow and orofacial tissue injury.

This article has been cited by other articles:

				C. L. Verdant, D. De Backer, J. Creteur, J.-L. Vincent, J. A. Guzman, and J. A. Kruse The following is the abstract of the article discussed in the subsequent letter: J Appl Physiol, March 1, 2005; 98(3): 1149 - 1150. [Abstract] [Full Text] [PDF]