Impact of local endothelial challenge with cytomegalovirus or glycoprotein B on vasodilation in intact pressurized arteries from nonpregnant and pregnant mice

Biol Reprod. 2012 Oct 11;87(4):83. doi: 10.1095/biolreprod.112.099168. Print 2012 Oct.

Abstract

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) infections are associated with vascular diseases in the human population. We have previously shown vascular dysfunction in systemic and uterine arteries dissected from nonpregnant (NP) mouse CMV (mCMV)-infected mice that was further impaired during late pregnancy (LP). CMV attachment alone through glycoprotein B (GB) can generate signals that impact vascular tone regulation. However, the contribution of direct virus interactions with endothelium to the vascular dysfunction we previously observed after in vivo mCMV infection is not known. We used a pressure myograph system to infuse GB or whole intact mCMV inside arteries dissected from uninfected mice and assessed vasodilation to methacholine infused inside pressurized arteries rather than applied abluminally. These results were compared to those observed after methacholine infusion into untreated arteries dissected from mCMV-infected mice. In mesenteric arteries, vasodilation to infused methacholine did not differ among treatments in NP or LP groups in contrast to previously published studies. However, increased vasoconstrictor activity was unmasked after blocking thromboxane receptors or prostaglandin production. Vasodilation in uterine arteries from uninfected NP mice to infused methacholine was increased by both GB and whole intact mCMV pretreatment. Untreated uterine arteries from mCMV-infected NP mice showed even greater vasodilation. There was no effect of GB or whole intact mCMV pretreatment in uterine arteries from uninfected LP mice, whereas vasodilation to infused methacholine was reduced in untreated uterine arteries from mCMV-infected LP mice. CMV exerts direct effects on vascular function which should be considered during viral reactivation leading to viremia and during GB-based vaccine administration.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study
  • Evaluation Study
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Animals
  • Blood Pressure / drug effects
  • Blood Pressure / physiology
  • Cytomegalovirus / immunology
  • Cytomegalovirus / physiology*
  • Cytomegalovirus Infections / physiopathology
  • Endothelial Cells* / drug effects
  • Endothelial Cells* / immunology
  • Endothelial Cells* / physiology
  • Female
  • Gestational Age
  • Male
  • Mesenteric Arteries / drug effects
  • Mesenteric Arteries / immunology
  • Mesenteric Arteries / physiology*
  • Mesenteric Arteries / virology
  • Methacholine Chloride / pharmacology
  • Mice
  • Mice, Inbred C57BL
  • Pregnancy / drug effects
  • Pregnancy / physiology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / pathology
  • Pregnancy Complications, Infectious / physiopathology*
  • Regional Blood Flow / drug effects
  • Regional Blood Flow / physiology
  • Uterine Artery / drug effects
  • Uterine Artery / physiology
  • Uterus / blood supply
  • Uterus / drug effects
  • Uterus / virology
  • Vasoconstrictor Agents / pharmacology
  • Vasodilation* / drug effects
  • Vasodilation* / physiology
  • Viral Envelope Proteins / pharmacology*

Substances

  • Vasoconstrictor Agents
  • Viral Envelope Proteins
  • glycoprotein B, Simplexvirus
  • Methacholine Chloride