The effect of hydrogen peroxide in human internal thoracic arteries: role of potassium channels, nitric oxide and cyclooxygenase products.

INTRODUCTION: We investigated both the effect and the role(s) of potassium channels, nitric oxide (NO) and cyclooxygenase (COX) products in the effect of hydrogen peroxide (H(2)O(2)) in human internal thoracic artery (ITA) rings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS: Samples of redundant ITA obtained from patients undergoing a coronary artery bypass graft surgery were cut into 3 mm wide rings and suspended in 20 ml organ baths. Isometric tension was continuously measured with an isometric force transducer connected to a computer-based data acquisition system.

RESULTS: H(2)O(2) (10(-7)-10(-4) M) produced concentration-dependent relaxation responses in human ITA precontracted by phenylephrine. The relaxant responses to H(2)O(2) did not differ significantly between endothelium-intact and endothelium-denuded preparations. Incubation of human ITA rings with superoxide dismutase (50 U/ml) did not affect the relaxant responses to H(2)O(2), while 1,000 U/ml catalase caused a significant decrease. Incubation of endothelium-intact or endothelium-denuded human ITA rings with voltage-dependent potassium channel blocker 4-aminopyridine (5 mM) significantly inhibited the relaxant responses to H(2)O(2). COX inhibitor indomethacin (10(-5) M) also caused a significant inhibition. Incubation with ATP-dependent potassium channel blocker glibenclamide (10(-6) M) or Ca(2+)-activated potassium channel blocker iberiotoxin (10(-7) M) or NO synthase (NOS) blocker N(omega)-nitro-L: -arginine methyl ester (10(-4) M) did not alter relaxant responses of ITA rings to H(2)O(2).

CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study suggested that H(2)O(2)-induced relaxation responses in human ITA were neither dependant on the endothelium nor blocked by NOS inhibition but they rather seem to depend on the activation of voltage-dependent potassium channels and COX.