Endothelium-dependent vasodilation in different rat hindlimb skeletal muscles

Few studies have examined potential for endothelium-dependent vasodilation in skeletal muscles of different fiber-type composition. We hypothesized that muscles composed of slow oxidative ( SO)-and/or fast oxidative glycolytic ( FOG)-type fibers have greater potential for endothelium-dependent vasodilation than muscles composed of fast glycolytic (FG)-type fibers. To test this hypothesis, the isolated perfused rat hindlimb preparation was used with a constant-flow, variable-pressure approach. Perfusion pressure was monitored continuously, and muscle-specific flows were determined by using radiolabeled microspheres at four time points: control, at peak effect of acetylcholine (ACh I; 1-2 x 10(-4) M), at peak effect of ACh after infusion of an endothelial inhibitor ( ACh II), and at peak effect of sodium nitroprusside ( SNP; 4-5 x 10(-4) M). Conductance was calculated by using pressure and flow data. In the SO-type soleus muscle, conductance increased with ACh and SNP, but the increase in conductance with ACh was partially abolished by the endothelial inhibitor N-G-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester ( control, 0.87 +/- 0.19; ACh I, 2.07 +/- 0.29; ACh II, 1.32 +/- 0.15; SNP, 1.76 +/- 0.19 ml.min(-1).100 g(-1).mmHg(-1); P < 0.05, ACh I and SNP vs. control). In the FOG-type red gastrocnemius muscle, similar findings were obtained ( control, 0.64 ± 0.11; ACh I, 1.36 ± 0.21; ACh II, 0.73 ± 0.16; SNP, 1.30 ± 0.21 ml.min(-1).100 g(-1).mmHg; P < 0.05, ACh I and SNP vs. control). In the FG-type white gastrocnemius muscle, neither ACh nor SNP increased conductance. Similar findings were obtained when muscles were combined into high- and low-oxidative muscle groups. Indomethacin had no effect on responses to ACh. These data indicate that endothelium-dependent vasodilation is exhibited by high- oxidative, but not low-oxidative, rat skeletal muscle. Furthermore, endothelium-dependent vasodilation in high- oxidative muscle appears to be primarily mediated by nitric oxide.