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      Vascular effects of tryptophan

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      MastersThesis.pdf (1.284Mb)
      Date
      2010-01-14
      Author
      Gandhi, Jugal Daxesh
      Type
      Thesis
      Degree Level
      Masters
      Metadata
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      Abstract
      Previous studies have shown that L-tryptophan treatment has been known to reduce blood pressure (BP) in hypertensive rats. L-tryptophan is converted to serotonin (5-HT), a potent vasoconstrictor agonist. The direct vascular effects of L-tryptophan, an essential amino acid, and the mechanism that contributes to the fall in BP have not been fully explored. The present study aims to examine the direct vascular responses to both D- and L- tryptophan using perfused mesenteric vascular bed, an ex-vivo preparation that represents the resistance function of circulation. Perfusion was maintained at a constant flow rate (5 mL/min) with Krebs buffer (pH 7.4, 37°C) after isolation from 12 to 14 week old male Sprague-Dawley rats. The basal perfusion pressure (PP) (mean ± SEM) was 27 ± 3 mmHg. Inclusion of D- and L-isomers in the perfusion medium led to concentration-dependent increase in PP. While the maximal response (Emax) was similar, D-tryptophan (EC50: 0.25 ± 0.12* µmol; Emax: 128 ± 8 mmHg) was more potent (lower EC50 value; *p < 0.01) than L-tryptophan (EC50: 0.79 ± 0.30 µmol; Emax: 141 ± 7 mmHg). Inclusion of increasing concentrations (2, 5 and 10 nM) of the 5-HT2A selective antagonist, ketanserin, led to parallel right-ward shifts in the concentration-response curves to D- and L-tryptophan with restoration of their Emax. In contrast, the α1 selective agonist, methoxamine (30 µM), constricted preparations, both D- (IC50: 0.94 ± 0.30* µmol; Imax: 96 ± 2%) and L-tryptophan (IC50: 2.8 ± 1.0 µmol Imax: 88± 1%) evoked concentration-dependent vasodilatation, an effect that was resistant to blockade by either ketanserin or other 5-HT antagonists. Again, D-tryptophan was more potent than L-tryptophan in the presence of 5-HT antagonist (*p < 0.05). Neither the removal of endothelium nor incubation with selective inhibitors of dilatory mediators released from the endothelium, failed to alter the vasodilator responses to D- and L-tryptophan. In potassium chloride depolarized preparations, L-tryptophan evoked an additive vasoconstrictor response. The vasodilator responses to L-tryptophan persisted in the presence of glibenclamide, a KATP channel inhibitor, or tetraethyl ammonium, a BKCa channel inhibitor, or BaCl2, a Kir channel inhibitor, or ouabain, a Na+-K+-ATPase pump inhibitor. These data confirm that the essential amino acid, L-tryptophan, as well as its D-isomer, evoke a biphasic vasoconstrictor and vasodilator responses in the resistance type mesenteric vascular bed. While the vasoconstrictor responses are mediated by activation of vascular 5-HT receptors, the endothelium-independent vasodilator responses are not linked to activation of vascular 5-HT receptors, vascular potassium channels, Na+-K+-ATPase pump or via inhibition of voltage-operated Ca2+-channels. Plasma concentration of L-tryptophan is about 90 - 120 µM. The endothelium/5-HT independent direct vasodilator responses characterized here for the first time could account for the antihypertensive/ BP lowering effect of L-tryptophan reported earlier by other laboratories.
      Degree
      Master of Science (M.Sc.)
      Department
      Pharmacology
      Program
      Pharmacology
      Supervisor
      Gopalakrishnan, Venkat
      Committee
      Yu, Peter; Desai, Kaushik; Richardson, J. Steven; Balsevich, John; Weber, Lynn
      Copyright Date
      January 2010
      URI
      http://hdl.handle.net/10388/etd-01072010-123800
      Subject
      Hypertension
      Tryptophan
      Endothelium
      Vascular Smooth Muscle
      Mesenteric Vascular Bed
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