Glutathione depletion in vivo enhances contraction and attenuates endothelium-dependent relaxation of isolated rat aorta

Ten-day administration of the glutamate–cysteine ligase inhibitor l-buthionine–[S,R]-sulfoximine (BSO; 20 or 30 mM in drinking water) to adult male Sprague–Dawley rats induced 50–60% glutathione depletion (p < 0.001) and elevated aortic ring reactive oxygen species release and tissue and plasma H2O2 concentrations (p < 0.001) compared to control animals (CON) that consumed normal drinking water. In contrast to previous studies using tail cuff plethysmography methods, BSO had no significant effect on systolic blood pressure assessed by indwelling femoral artery catheters in conscious animals (10-day values, 119 ± 3 mn Hg vs 122 ± 4 mm Hg in CON vs BSO, respectively). Thoracic aorta rings were excised for in vitro assessment of vasomotor function. BSO shifted the phenylephrine (PE) dose–response curve to the left (p = 0.003), lowering the EC50 for PE contraction (from −6.752 ± 0.056 to −7.056 ± 0.055 log units; p = 0.001). Endothelium-dependent relaxation to acetylcholine (ACh) was significantly blunted (p = 0.019) and the EC50 for ACh relaxation was significantly increased (from −7.428 ± 0.117 to −7.129 ± 0.048 log units; p = 0.02) in BSO vs CON. Endothelium-independent vasorelaxation to sodium nitroprusside was similar in BSO and CON groups. Thoracic aorta immunoblot analyses revealed increases in endothelial nitric oxide synthase, superoxide dismutase 1 and 2, and soluble guanylate cyclase in BSO vs CON (all p < 0.01). Thus, enhanced PE contraction, blunted endothelium-dependent relaxation, and adaptations in nitric oxide bioavailability pathways provide the first evidence of chronic, in vivo BSO-induced, oxidative stress-mediated direct effects on the vasomotor function of arteries.