Chronic sensory denervation reduces thrombin-stimulated endothelin release from aortic endothelial cells

The long-term (trophic) influence of perivascular nerves on the endothelium was investigated by measuring changes in thrombin-stimulated release of the potent vasoconstrictor, endothelin, after selective chronic denervation. Rat pups were treated with either guanethidine or capsaicin to destroy sympathetic or sensory nerves, respectively. The abdominal aortas from the rats at three months of age (5 pooled per experiment) were incubated with 4U thrombin/ml in medium for 24 h at 37°C, and the amount of endothelin released from the preparation determined by immunoassay. After neonatal sensory denervation there was a significant reduction in the thrombinstimulated release of endothelin compared to the controls (0.012±0.012 (4) compared to 0.063±0.012 (6), pmol/cm²/24 h, p<0.02). There was no change in endothelin release after sympathetic denervation. In summary, sensory nerves play a trophic role in the expression of endothelin in endothelial cells of the intima.