Role of Cl− current in endothelin-1-induced contraction in rabbit basilar artery

Abstract

Cl− efflux induces depolarization and contraction of smooth muscle cells. This study was undertaken to explore the role of Cl− channels in endothelin-1 (ET-1)-induced contraction in rabbit basilar artery. Male New Zealand White rabbits ( n = 26), weighing 1.8–2.5 kg, were euthanized by an overdose of pentobarbital. The basilar arteries were removed for isometric tension recording. ET-1 produced a concentration-dependent contraction of the rabbit basilar artery in the normal Cl− Krebs-Henseleit bicarbonate buffer (123 mM Cl−). The ET-1-induced contraction was reduced by the following manipulations: 1) inhibition of Na+-K+-2Cl− cotransporter with bumetanide (3 × 10−5 and 10−4 M), 2) bicarbonate-free solution to disable Cl−/HCO[Formula: see text] exchanger, and 3) preincubation of rings with the Cl− channel blockers niflumic acid, 5-nitro-2-(3-phenylpropylamino)benzoic acid, and indanyloxyacetic acid 94. The ET-1-induced contraction was enhanced by substitution of extracellular Cl− (10 mM) with methanesulfonic acid (113 mM). Cl− channels are involved in ET-1-induced contraction in the rabbit basilar artery.