The relaxant effect of propofol on isolated rat intrapulmonary arteries.

Propofol is a widely used anesthetic. Many studies have shown that propofol has direct effects on blood vessels, but the precise mechanism is not fully understood. Secondary intrapulmonary artery rings from male rats were prepared and mounted in a Multi Myograph System. The following constrictors were used to induce contractions in isolated artery rings: high K+ solution (60 mmol/L); U46619 solution (100 nmol/L); 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT; 3 mu mol/L); or phenylephrine (Phe; 1 mu mol/L). The relaxation effects of propofol were tested on high K+ or U46619 precontracted rings. Propofol also was added to induce relaxation of rings preconstricted by U46619 after pretreatment with the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME). The effects of propofol on Ca2+ influx via the L-type Ca2+ channels were evaluated by examining contraction-dependent responses to CaCl2 in the absence or presence of propofol (10 to 300 mu mol/L). High K+ solution and U46619 induced remarkable contractions of the rings, whereas contractions induced by 5-HT and Phe were weak. Propofol induced dose-dependent relaxation of artery rings precontracted by the high K+ solution. Propofol also induced relaxation of rings precontracted by U46619 in an endothelium-independent way. Propofol at different concentrations significantly inhibited the Ca2+-induced contractions of pulmonary rings exposed to high K+-containing and Ca2+-free solution in a dose-dependent manner. Propofol relaxed vessels precontracted by the high K+ solution and U46619 in an endothelium-independent way. The mechanism for this effect may involve inhibition of calcium influx through voltage-operated calcium channels (VOCCs) and receptor-operated calcium channels (ROCCs).