The aim was to examine if the depressor effect of urocortin involves activation of the nitric oxide (NO)/L-arginine pathway, production of prostanoids or opening of K⁺-channels. I. v. bolus urocortin (0.1–3 nmol/kg) dose-dependently decreased mean arterial pressure in thiobutabarbital-anesthetized rats. The depressor effect of urocortin was unaffected by pretreatment with N^G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, inhibitor of NO synthase, i.v. bolus) or noradrenaline (i.v. infusion), which increased arterial pressure to a similar level as that produced by L-NAME. In addition, methylene blue (inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase, i.v. infusion), indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor, i.v. bolus), glibenclamide (blocker of ATP-sensitive K⁺-channels, i.v. bolus) or tetraethylammonium (a non specific K⁺-channel blocker, i.v. bolus) did not affect the depressor effect of urocortin. In conclusion, the depressor effect of urocortin in anesthetized rats is not mediated via the NO/L-arginine pathway, activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase, production of prostanoids, opening of TEA sensitive K⁺-channels nor opening of ATP sensitive K⁺-channels.

We investigated the mechanism of the vasodepressor effect of endokinin A/B. An intravenous (IV) bolus of endokinin A/B (0.05-0.3 nmol/kg) dose-dependently decreased mean arterial pressure in thiobutabarbital-anesthetized rats. The magnitude of the response was unaffected by IV pretreatment with NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME, inhibitor of nitric oxide synthase), methylene blue (inhibitor of soluble guanylyl cyclase), indomethacin (cyclooxygenase inhibitor), or tetraethylammonium (TEA, nonspecific K+ channel blocker). L-NAME reduced the half-recovery time of the vasodepressor effect of endokinin A/B relative to responses in rats pretreated with either saline or norepinephrine, which caused a similar pressor effect as did L-NAME. Methylene blue, but not TEA or indomethacin, reduced the recovery time of the vasodepressor effect of endokinin A/B. Therefore, the vasodepressor effect of endokinin A/B is mediated via the nitric oxide/L-arginine pathway and activation of soluble guanylyl cyclase but not by production of prostanoids or opening of TEA-sensitive K+ channels.