Rutin-induced endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation in rat aortic rings and the underlying mechanism

The aim of the present study was to determine the possible mechanism by which rutin causes vasodilatation in isolated thoracic aorta rings from the rat. The effects of rutin on Hogs preconstricted with phenylephrine, with or without endothelium, were determined using an organ bath technique. The mechanism was explored by measuring the effects of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor L-N(G)-nitroarginine methyl ester (L-NAME), the guanylyl cyclase inhibitor methylene blue, the cyclooxygenase inhibitor indomethacin, the ATP-sensitive K+ channel blocker glibenclamide and the beta-adrenoceptor antagonist propranolol. Rutin at the range of 10-160 mu mol/L caused dose-dependent vasorelaxation in preconstricted endothelium-intact rings, but had no effect on rings without endothelium. The maximal response calculated from the vasorelaxation curves of rutin was 44.28 +/- 7.48%. Pretreatment with L-NAME (0.1 mmol/L), methylene blue (10 mu mol/L), glibenclamide (10 mmol/L) or indomethacin (10 mmol/L) attenuated the vasorelaxation induced by rutin in endothelium-intact rings. Glibenclamide (10 mmol/L) enhanced the vasorelaxation of rutin. Propranolol (10 mu mol/L) did not block the effect of rutin. The results indicate that vasorelaxation is induced by rutin via the nitric oxide-guanylyl cyclase pathway and a prostaglandin-mediated mechanism, as well as activation of the ATP-sensitive potassium channel.