Vasopressin‐induced vasoconstriction is dependent on MAPK erk1/2 phosphorylation

• Published in: Fundamental & clinical pharmacology Vol. 18; no. 1; pp. 45 - 50
• Main Authors: Streefkerk, Jörn O., Hoogaars, Willem M.H., Christoffels, Vincent M., Sand, Carsten, Pfaffendorf, Martin, Peters, Stephan L.M., van Zwieten, Pieter A.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: 01.02.2004
• ISSN: 0767-3981; 1472-8206
• DOI: 10.1046/j.1472-8206.2003.00221.x

Abstract To investigate the involvement of the mitogen‐activated protein kinase (MAPK) family of extracellular signal‐regulated kinase (ERK) 1 and 2 (MAPK erk1/2 ) in the vasopressin‐mediated vasoconstriction in the rat aorta. Vasopressin‐induced vasoconstriction was measured in isolated rat thoracic aortae in the presence or absence of MAPK erk1/2 kinase (MKK mek1/2 ) inhibitors. Thereafter the MAPK erk1/2 phosphorylation in the rat aorta was quantified using Western blot analysis. Vasopressin (1–300 n m ) induced a concentration‐dependent vasoconstriction, which could be inhibited concentration dependently by the selective MKK mek1/2 inhibitors, PD 98059 (10 and 100  μ m ) and U 0126 (10 and 100  μ m ). Western blot analysis revealed a 2.7 ± 0.6‐fold increase in the MAPK erk1/2 phosphorylation induced by vasopressin (300 n m ). This phosphorylation could be dose dependently prevented by both PD 98059 (100  μ m ) and U 0126 (10 and 100  μ m ). These results indicate that vasoconstriction induced by vasopressin is partly regulated by the MAPK erk1/2 pathway.