Long-Term Inhibition of RhoA Attenuates Vascular Contractility by Enhancing Endothelial NO Production in an Intact Rabbit Mesenteric Artery

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Abstract
RhoA plays a critical role in regulating NO production in cultured endothelial cells. To determine its role in in situ endothelial cells, we investigated the effects of 3-hydroxy-3-methyl-glutaryl coenzyme A reductase inhibitors and a RhoA-binding domain of Rho-kinase (RB) on vascular contractility in the isolated rabbit mesenteric artery. Ex vivo treatment of the strips with 3×10−5 mol/L simvastatin and fluvastatin for ≈24 to 30 hours significantly attenuated the contractile response to phenylephrine and high K+ in the presence of endothelium. The addition of Nω-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester and the removal of endothelium abolished the attenuation of the contractile response. The cotreatment with geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate prevented the statin-induced attenuation of the contractile response, whereas geranylgeranyl transferase inhibitor mimicked the effect of simvastatin. Treatment with simvastatin enhanced the bradykinin-induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in the mesenteric artery, whereas it had ...