Premium
Serotonin induces vasoconstriction of smooth muscle cell‐rich neointima through 5‐hydroxytryptamine 2A receptor in rabbit femoral arteries
Author(s) -
NISHIHIRA K.,
YAMASHITA A.,
TANAKA N.,
MORIGUCHIGOTO S.,
IMAMURA T.,
ISHIDA T.,
KAWASHIMA S.,
YAMAMOTO R.,
KITAMURA K.,
ASADA Y.
Publication year - 2008
Publication title -
journal of thrombosis and haemostasis
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 1.947
H-Index - 178
eISSN - 1538-7836
pISSN - 1538-7933
DOI - 10.1111/j.1538-7836.2008.02996.x
Subject(s) - neointima , vasoconstriction , vascular smooth muscle , contraction (grammar) , coronary arteries , medicine , contractility , artery , anatomy , chemistry , endocrinology , restenosis , smooth muscle , stent
Summary. Background: Smooth muscle cell (SMC)‐rich intima is a morphological feature of atherosclerotic lesions that is observed in eroded plaque and spastic arteries. Arteries with SMC‐rich intima are susceptible to vasoconstriction or vasospasm against some vasoactive agents. Objective: The present study evaluates the contribution of SMC‐rich intima to thrombogenic vasoconstriction. Methods: We established SMC‐rich neointima by damaging rabbit femoral arteries using balloons and then measured the isometric tension of the femoral strips against 5‐hydroxytryptamine (5‐HT), adenosine diphosphate, adenosine triphosphate and thrombin. Results: Among these agents, only 5‐HT induced a hypercontractile response of the injured arteries with SMC‐rich neointima, compared with non‐injured arteries. Smooth muscle cells of both the neointima and media expressed 5‐HT 2A receptor, and sarpogrelate, a selective 5‐HT 2A receptor antagonist significantly inhibited the hypercontraction. Furthermore, 5‐HT induced contraction of separated neointima and hypercontraction of separated media compared with non‐injured media. Sarpogrelate and fasudil, a specific Rho‐kinase inhibitor, significantly suppressed such contraction of both the neointima and media of injured arteries. Conclusions: These results suggest that 5‐HT plays a crucial role in thrombogenic vasoconstriction, and that SMC‐rich intima as well as media directly contributes to the hypercontractile response of atherosclerotic vessels through the 5‐HT 2A receptor and the Rho‐kinase pathway.