Title
Sex differences in vascular reactivity in mesenteric arteries from a mouse model of Acute Intermittent Porphyria [AIP]
Document Type
Presentation
Date of Publication
2018
Event
Heme Biosynthesis and The Porphyrias: Recent Advances
Location
Orlando, FL
Abstract
Background and aims
Acute intermittent porphyria (AIP) results from a partial deficiency of porphobilinogen deaminase (PBGD). Symptomatic AIP patients, most of whom are women, experience acute attacks characterized by severe abdominal pain and abrupt increases in blood pressure. Here, we characterized the reactivity of mesenteric arteries from male and female AIP mice with ~30% of normal PBGD activity and wild type C57BL/6 mice.
Methods
An acute porphyric attack was induced in AIP mice by treatment with phenobarbital. Vascular responses to K+, phenylephrine (PE), acetylcholine (ACh), and hemin were determined (Wire Multi Myograph).
Results
Maximal contraction to PE was increased in arteries from male and female AIP mice (p < .05) during an induced attack of acute porphyria. Female AIP arteries had increased sensitivity to PE (p < .05) even after nitric oxide (NO) blockade with Nω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) (p < .05). Maximal relaxation to ACh was similar in males and females with lower sensitivity in female AIP arteries (p < .05). Hemin induced greater relaxation in AIP arteries in both males and females (p < .05).
Summary/conclusions
Sex differences in this AIP mouse model include a pro-contractile response in females. These alterations may contribute to the increased blood pressure during an acute attack and provide a novel mechanism of action whereby heme ameliorates the attacks.
Recommended Citation
Pulgar, V. M.; Yasuda, M.; Lin, G.; Desnick, R.; and Bonkovsky, H., "Sex differences in vascular reactivity in mesenteric arteries from a mouse model of Acute Intermittent Porphyria [AIP]" (2018). Pharmaceutical Sciences. 2143.
https://cufind.campbell.edu/pharmacy/2143
