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Pharmacologic studies on the mechanism of melatonin‐induced vasorelaxation in rat aorta
Author(s) -
Weekley L. Bruce
Publication year - 1995
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 - 10.1111/j.1600-079x.1995.tb00182.x
Subject(s) - melatonin , propranolol , aorta , endocrinology , medicine , tetrodotoxin , atropine , vasoactive , vasoactive intestinal peptide , pharmacology , chemistry , neuropeptide , receptor
The influence of several classes of drugs on the melatonin‐induced vasorelaxation of isolated rat aorta were examined. Melatonin caused a dose‐dependent relaxation of precontracted (30 mM KC1) aorta. This relaxant response was blocked by preincubating vessels with antagonists of vasoactive intestinal peptide. Substance P antagonists did not alter the response to melatonin. Pretreatment of vessels with 6‐hydroxydopamine, lidocaine, or tetrodotoxin antagonized the relaxant response to melatonin. On the other hand, pretreatment with atropine + propranolol did not alter the response to melatonin. These experiments suggest that melatonin may exert part of its vasoactive actions by an interaction with perivascular nerve terminals.