Acidosis Prevents and Alkalosis Augments Endothelium-dependent Contractions in Mouse Arteries

Changes in pH modulate the responsiveness of vascular smooth muscle cells to vasoconstrictor stimuli, but their effect on endothelium-dependent responses is unknown. Therefore, the influence of moderate changes in pH on responses to endothelium-dependent and -independent agonists was determined in aortae and carotid arteries of 15- to 26-week-old male C57BL/6N mice. Isolated rings were suspended in Halpern-Mulvany myographs for isometric tension recording. The preparations were exposed to either acidic (pH 7), control (pH 7.4) or alkaline (pH 7.8) modified Krebs-Ringer bicarbonate buffer solutions and their contractions and relaxations compared. Endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine (in the presence of meclofenamate or of the thromboxane-prostanoid (TP) receptor antagonist S18886) were comparable at the three pH values tested in contracted aortic or carotid arterial rings. Endothelium-dependent contractions of quiescent carotid arteries were reduced in acidosis and potentiated in alkalosis compared to control; these effects were reversible. The carotid arteries produced equal amounts of 6-keto prostaglandin F1α and thromboxane B2 at the different pH values tested. Contractions to the full TP receptor agonist U46619 were similar in the three milieus, but after inducing partial TP receptor blockade (with low concentrations of the TP receptor antagonist S18886) they were depressed in acidosis compared to alkalosis. Prostacyclin as a partial TP receptor activator also induced weaker contractions at low than at high pH, whereas its vasodilator effect was not affected. These findings demonstrate that changes in pH modulate endothelium-dependent contractions in mouse arteries primarily by altering the sensitivity of TP receptors of vascular smooth muscle to endothelium-derived contracting factors.