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Melatonin suppresses lysophosphatidylcholine enhancement of serotonin‐induced vasoconstriction in the human umbilical artery
Author(s) -
Okatani Yuji,
Wakatsuki Akihiko,
Watanabe Kazushi,
Taniguchi Katsunori,
Fukaya Takao
Publication year - 2000
Publication title -
journal of pineal research
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.881
H-Index - 131
eISSN - 1600-079X
pISSN - 0742-3098
DOI - 10.1034/j.1600-0633.2002.290407.x
Subject(s) - lysophosphatidylcholine , melatonin , vasoconstriction , nitric oxide , endocrinology , medicine , umbilical artery , chemistry , pharmacology , biology , phosphatidylcholine , biochemistry , phospholipid , gestation , pregnancy , membrane , genetics
We evaluated the antioxidant property of melatonin as related to the vasospastic effect of lysophosphatidylcholine (LPC), a component of oxidized lipoprotein, on the human umbilical artery. Helical sections of umbilical arteries with intact endothelium were obtained at elective cesarean delivery between 37 and 39 weeks of gestation. Changes in 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT)‐induced vasoconstriction were measured. Arterial sections were treated with LPC alone (15 or 30 μM) or pretreated with an hydroxyl radical (zrad;OH) scavenger (mannitol), a cyclooxygenase inhibitor (indomethacin, 20 μM), nitric oxide (NO) synthesis inhibitor (L‐NG‐monomethylarginine, LNMA, 2×10−4 M), or melatonin (1 or 10 μM). LPC potentiated 5‐HT‐induced contraction in a concentration‐dependent manner. Pretreatment with mannitol significantly suppressed the vasospastic effect of LPC. LNMA augmented the vasospastic effect of LPC, but indomethacin did not. Melatonin significantly suppressed the vasospastic effect of LPC in a concentration‐dependent manner. Considering a previous finding that zrad;OH and oxidized low‐density lipoprotein decrease NO production in the human umbilical artery, the vasospastic effect of LPC appear to involve suppression of endothelial NO synthesis. Melatonin significantly suppresses the vasospastic effect of LPC, probably by scavenging zrad;OH arising from LPC.