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  • Title: Vascular relaxation to omega-3 fatty acids: comparison to sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, papaverine, and D600.
    Author: Engler MB.
    Journal: Cardiovasc Drugs Ther; 1992 Dec; 6(6):605-10. PubMed ID: 1292580.
    Abstract:
    The vasorelaxant activity of the omega-3 fatty acids--docosahexaenoic (DHA) and eicosapentaenoic (EPA) acids--in comparison with other known vasodilators--sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, papaverine, and D600--were studied in the isolated rat aorta. The relaxant responses of these vasodilators and fatty acids at concentrations of 1-100 microM were assessed in aortic rings contracted with norepinephrine (NE 10(-6) M) or with KCl (30 mM). Cyclic nucleotide enhancers (sodium nitroprusside, nitroglycerin, papaverine) were more effective in producing relaxation, regardless of the contractile mechanism, i.e., alpha-adrenoceptor stimulation or depolarization. In contrast, the omega-3 fatty acids produced augmented relaxation in NE-contracted vessels. Relaxations produced by DHA (15 +/- 2% to 45 +/- 10%) were similar to D600 (16 +/- 2% to 60 +/- 7%) in NE-contracted rings, but not in KCl contracted rings. The responses to D600 and DHA in KCl-contracted vessels were 79 +/- 2% to 104 +/- 3% and 5 +/- 1% to 21 +/- 3%, respectively. In another set of experiments, the effects of omega-3 fatty acids in the presence of albumin were examined; no significant differences in the induced relaxant responses were noted. These results suggest that the mechanisms of vascular relaxation, such as cyclic nucleotide elevation and calcium antagonism of potential-operated channels, are different from those induced by the omega-3 fatty acids.
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